February saw the release of In the New Mexico Tradition: The Impacts of MainStreet, 1985-2013 at New Mexico MainStreet’s Winter Leadership Network Meeting in Santa Fe. Author Donovan Rypkema of PlaceEconomics presented the study’s findings and advised NMMS communities on how to capitalize on our network’s impressive performance statistics.
See the full report on our website. http://nmmainstreet.org/nm-mainstreet-economic-impact-analysis/
NMMS communities have invested more than $1 billion in private building rehabilitations and new buildings, and in public projects during the past 28 years
For every $1 that the taxpayers of New Mexico have invested in the state program, the private sector has invested $44.50 locally in MainStreet communities
More than 3,200 businesses have started up and 11,400 jobs have been created in NMMS districts.
Mr. Rypkema recommended that local NMMS programs take his powerpoint presentation and tailor it to tell their own local success story. Incorporating the local program’s impact statistics and highlighting vital activities and projects will result in a powerful presentation for local program partners. There certainly is much to celebrate in individual communities.
- In 2013, Los Alamos MainStreet achieved a net gain of 17 new businesses.
- Last year, Albuquerque’s Downtown MainStreet program saw 72 net new jobs
- Since 2005, the MainStreet de Las Vegas district has realized $12.1 million in private reinvestment in building rehabilitations.
- During 2003-2013, Carlsbad invested $19.9 million in public improvements in the MainStreet district.
The power behind these numbers is volunteers. Downtown Las Cruces Partnership topped the 2013 charts by logging 3,705 volunteer hours.
The New Mexico MainStreet team is positioned to help each local community use the statewide economic impact analysis in ways that best communicate your local program’s effectiveness. (Contact Keith Kjelstrom, Economic Positioning Program Associate, for assistance.)