New Mexico MainStreet has opened the application process for new “Emerging Communities” to enter into the MainStreet Program. The Program is looking for communities with historic and traditional downtowns that want to pursue economic redevelopment and revitalization restoring economic vitality to their core commercial districts.
The application process is a self-assessment process that should be undertaken by a group of stakeholders. The application process is competitive with enough funding to bring in one new community this year. Technical assistance in developing the application is available through New Mexico MainStreet.
Applications are available online on the New Mexico MainStreet. Please see Resources Page >Emerging MainStreet and Frontier Community Applications>Emerging Community Application 2015. Applications are due to the Economic Development Department Office in Santa Fe, no later than 2pm December 15, 2015. Please see the application for further details.
The MainStreet Program is a community-based, public-private partnership program. It brings together downtown stakeholders and the local governing body to develop a set of strategies to implement within the district to increase economic activity, business and entrepreneurial activity, restore and rehabilitate commercial property and to mitigate leakage from the commercial center.
The New Mexico MainStreet Program (NMMS) is licensed and accredited by the National Main Street Center to provide support to local downtown affiliates through technical assistance, services, and resources including grants for eligible economic development projects within the district. NMMS uses the “Main Street Four-Point Approach”® that the National Main Street Center developed more than 35 years ago. The Four points are used as comprehensive strategies which work together to implement projects and impact positive economic development change.
Through the Four-Point Approach, the community explores its unique assets, identifies its key economic opportunities and establishes work plans to accomplish the needed work. Interested communities will receive support from NMMS in developing a 501c3 nonprofit to formally take on the role of driving downtown projects in concert with the local governing body.
There are currently 27 active MainStreet Districts in the state of New Mexico with over 2,000 affiliated programs around the country.
For more information about “Emerging Community” application, please contact the State MainStreet Director, Rich Williams, at 505-827-0168, rich.williams@state.nm.us.