Programs & Training
Service Directory
Technical Services Delivered Directly to Your Community
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Missouri Main Street Connection offers a variety of technical services to communities of all sizes, which can be requested and adapted to meet your needs.
Service Directory
The Missouri Main Street Connection Service Directory is divided into seven categories of technical services. The services and descriptionsbelow are an overview. If you are interested in more details, please contact us at [email protected].
1. Thinking About Main Street
Overview of Missouri Main Street Connection, Main Street America, and the overall approach to downtown revitalization. (1.5 hrs)
Creating community buy-in is vital to the success of the downtown revitalization process. Missouri Main Street will facilitate a community visioning session to educate the community on the importance of a vibrant downtown while also brainstorming and prioritizing ideas for your downtown. (3 hrs)
Do you need help with the process and paperwork to form your Main Street 501(c)3 organization? Missouri Main Street can help you with the process and steps necessary for success. (Phone Consultation)
2. Main Street Support Services
A 1- or 2-day learning event that teaches the basics of the Four Points of the Main Street Approach™ to new board members, staff, stakeholders, city officials, and other volunteers. (6 to 12 hrs)
Reinvigorate the director, board and community stakeholders with a solid understanding of what the Main Street program is, why it is important, and the concrete roadmap for future efforts. If you are looking for more in-depth assistance, look at the People Energizing Places Grant and Strategic Teams Engaging People Grant. (3 hrs)
It is advised that a community conduct a visioning every few years to facilitate the buy-in between the Main Street program and the community. This is also the first step in the Transformation Strategy process. See the Transformation Strategy Development service for a complete package. (3 hrs)
This service brings together the Main Street board of directors, committee chairs, volunteers, and community partners for a strategic planning session to set the Transformation Strategy(ies) for the next 2-3 years. Pair this service with Action Plan facilitation or look for the Transformation Strategy Development service for the entire process from start-to-finish. (3 hrs)
How do we implement the great ideas that are generated within a Main Street organization? Action planning is the secret weapon to success. Learn the process for creating action-oriented plans that energize volunteers and partners to get things done. (2 hrs)
3. Organization Services
Pair community visioning, strategic planning, and action plan facilitation for the whole package in creating your plan for successful downtown revitalization using the Main Street Approach™. (2 hrs)
The leadership of the organization sets the stage for success of the Main Street program. Learn about assessment, recruitment, training, and orienting these leaders as we bringthem onto the board. Board roles and responsibilities will be taught along with ethics and regulatory obligations. (2 hrs)
Committees sometimes need a refresher on the purpose, mission, and fundamentals of their work in Main Street. This service provides three (3) hours of in-depth information on the Organization point from resources and partnerships to funding and communications. (3 hrs)
What are the many options for funding the Main Street program? Learn about the various sources and tactics for reaching out to stakeholders, crafting the message for investors, selling your Main Street program, and leveraging the organization’s past successes. Or are you just starting outand need help compiling that first fund-raising plan? (2 hrs)
Board handbooks, employee manuals, and financial checks-and-balances are all tools that a successful Main Street program needs in their operations toolkit. Missouri Main Street can help you put these documents together for your organization. (Phone Consultation)
Examine all the tools available for communicating the importance of downtown and the Main Street program. Compile an annual communications schedule that correspondswith your events and activities along with examining online fundraising efforts. Compose an annual report to demonstratethe value and impact of your Main Street program. (2 hrs)
Missouri Main Street can help you create a recruitment, orientation, and appreciation plan for your organization. Volunteers are the life blood of the organization, so we need aplan to utilize and support these great people. This service will also include looking at leadership development within theorganization and involving youth in the Main Street efforts. (2hrs)
4. Design Services
Committees sometimes need a refresher on the purpose, mission, and fundamentals of their work in Main Street. This service provides three (3) hours of in-depth information on the Design point from resources and partnerships to funding and communications. (3 hrs)
You have heard the expression that a picture is worth a thousand words. A rendering can portray those words for a property owner, developer, committee, city, and the community when it comes to projects downtown. Missouri Main Street has an architect and landscape designer on retainer that can work with you to provide visual inspiration for a project. (varies)
We all know that the historic fabric of our downtown is what makes us unique, but how do we educate the public, property owners, and developers on the principles and value of historicpreservation. Missouri Main Street can provide either basic ormore advanced historic preservation training. (3 hrs)
Do you need a preservation expert to meet with a property owner that is looking at options and assistance with their building? Historic tax credits? Missouri Main Street has consultants on call for such services. (Varies)
Assistance in identifying the current assets in your downtowndistrict that includes a physical inventory of the current assets and the creation of a map identifying the current mix of business and location of assets. This service is done in conjunction with the Design and the Economic Vitality Committee so you can update the map in the future as conditions change from year to year. (3 hrs)
Missouri Main Street has consultants to assist your downtownin the creation or review of design guidelines or standards. These documents are critical to good design in the district and help property owners understand the process and expectations of good design. (varies)
5. Economic Vitality Services
Committees sometimes need a refresher on the purpose, mission, and fundamentals of their work in Main Street. This service provides three (3) hours of in-depth information on the Economic Vitality point from resources and partnerships to funding and communications. (3 hrs)
Transformation Strategies are based upon the community’s vision and market information. What does that mean? Missouri Main Street can teach you how to conduct your own market analysis as well as provide the demographic information (ESRI data) you need to make those critical decisions on the direction of the revitalization efforts. (4 hrs)
Assistance in identifying the current assets in your downtowndistrict that includes a physical inventory of the current assets and the creation of a map identifying the current mix of business and location of assets. This service is done in conjunction with the Design and Economic Vitality Committees so you can update the map in the future as conditions change from year to year. (2 hrs)
What are the current tools to assist in business recruitment? What are other communities doing to recruit new businesses?How are other communities selling downtown? What should be included in a recruitment piece? How we package these items is important, so everyone is on the same page when speaking to potential business owners and entrepreneurs. Missouri Main Street will assist in creating this package to help in recruiting business to the district. (3 hrs)
6. Promotion Services
Committees sometimes need a refresher on the purpose, mission, and fundamentals of their work in Main Street. This service provides three (3) hours of in-depth information on the Promotion point from resources and partnerships to funding and communications. (3 hrs)
It can be beneficial for someone outside of your organization and community to review your promotional materials and website for functionality and effectiveness. Missouri Main Street can do that review for you and provide advice and examples that may assist you in improving your online and visual presence. (2 hrs)
Are your events doing what you expect? How do you measure success? Let Missouri Main Street help you conduct a “returnon investment” (ROI) on your current events. This can be helpful for soliciting sponsors or partners but also when evaluating if you have the resources to successfully continue the event. Learn various ways to measure ROI. (2 hrs)
Missouri Main Street offers a 70/30 matching grant to help you start a Main Street program or convert a downtown organization into a Main Street program through two years of onsite technical assistance and expertise. This is a competitive grant for services with a limited number of communities accepted each year. Learn More.
This one year grant is available as a matching grant for services to help a Main Street organization with a specific project or initiative. Missouri Main Street can help get you to the next level with any project including implementing a Community Improvement District (CID), developing a board and employee procedures manual, providing guidance and expertise in creating a plan for second floor housing development and many more. This grant is currently a 75/25 matching grant. Learn more.
Missouri Main Street has a grant to provide guidance and direction for a Main Street program over two years for more complex opportunities. This grant is a 75/25 grant providing services such as developing Transformation Strategies from start-to-finish with community visioning, market analysis, choosing strategies, and creating an implementation plan. Other services could include developing a funding plan for a major project, human resource or succession planning, or developing a long-range downtown strategic plan. Learn More.