Jump to... 1. The National Main Street Approach to Downtown Revitalization™ 2. The Eight Principles Guiding Successful Main Street Programs 3. Minimum Standards for Designated Main Street/Better Hometown Communities 4. Eligibility Requirements The City of Trenton Better Hometown Program is responsible to the Downtown Development Authority. The Better Hometown Program is based on the State of Georgia's Main Street Program. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs', Office of Downtown Development (ODD) coordinates the Georgia Main Street and Better Hometown Programs. These programs assist Georgia cities, neighborhoods and small towns in the development/redevelopment of their core commercial areas. Assistance provided by the Office of Downtown Development emphasizes community-based, self-help efforts grounded in the principles of professional, comprehensive management of core commercial district within the context of historic preservation and the National Main Street Center’s Four-point Approach to Downtown Revitalization™: Organization, Design, Economic Restructuring and Promotion. To date, there are 105 state designated cities in these programs. For more information go to http://www.dca.state.ga.us/bht/general/index.html. The Better Hometown Program emphasizes community-based, self-help efforts grounded in the principles of professional, comprehensive management of core commercial district within the context of historic preservation and the National Main Street Center’s Four-point Approach to Downtown Revitalization™: Organization, Design, Economic Restructuring and Promotion. The National Main Street Approach to Downtown Revitalization™ Main Street is a philosophy, a program and a proven comprehensive approach to downtown commercial district revitalization. This approach has been implemented in over 1,800 cities and towns in 44 states across the nation with the help of the National Main Street Center and statewide downtown revitalization programs. The success of the Main Street approach is based on its comprehensive nature. By carefully integrating four points into a practical downtown management strategy, a local Main Street program will produce fundamental changes in a community’s economic base. Organization involves building a Main Street framework that is well represented by business and property owners, bankers, citizens, public officials, chambers of commerce and other local economic development organizations. Everyone must work together to maintain a long-term effort. Promotion creates excitement downtown. Street festivals, parades, retail events and image development campaigns are some of the ways Main Street encourages customer traffic. Promotion involves marketing an enticing image to shoppers, investors and visitors and also positioning the downtown in the market place. Design enhances the attractiveness of the business district. Historic building rehabilitation, street and alley clean-up, colorful banners, landscaping and lighting all improve the physical image of the downtown as a quality place to shop, work, walk, invest in and live. Design improvements result in a reinvestment of public and private dollars to downtown. Economic Restructuring involves analyzing current market forces to develop long-term solutions. Recruiting new businesses, creatively converting unused space for new uses and sharpening the competitiveness of Main Street’s traditional merchants are examples of economic restructuring activities. The Eight Principles Guiding Successful Main Street Programs Comprehensive - A single project cannot revitalize a downtown or commercial neighborhood. An ongoing series of initiatives is vital to build community support and create lasting progress. Incremental - Small projects make a big difference. They demonstrate that "things are happening" on Main Street and hone the skills and confidence the program will need to tackle more complex projects. Self-Help - The State can provide valuable direction and technical assistance, but only local leadership can breed long-term success by fostering and demonstrating community involvement and commitment to the revitalization effort. Public/Private Partnership - Every local Main Street program needs the support and expertise of both the public and private sectors. For an effective partnership, each must recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the other. Identifying and Capitalizing on Existing Assets - Unique offerings and local assets provide the solid foundation for a successful Main Street initiative. Quality - From the storefront design to promotional campaigns to special evetns, quality must be instilled in the organization. Change - Changing community attitudes and habits is essential to bring about a commercial district renaissance. A carefully planned Main Street program will help shift public perceptions and practices to support and sustain the revitalization process. Action Oriented - Frequent visible changes in the look and activities of the commercial district will reinforce the perception of positive change. Small, but dramatic, improvements early in the process will remind the community that the revitalization effort is underway. Minimum Standards for Designated Main Street/Better Hometown Communities These criteria are based on best practices distilled from our most successful Georgia Better Hometown and Main Street cities' experiences and the National Main Street Center's minimum standards and is the basis for evaluating downtown revitalization programs. Has broad-based community support for the commercial district revitalization process, with strong support from both the public and private sectors. Has developed vision and mission statements relevant to community conditions and to the local Better Hometown/Main Street program's organizational stage. Has an annual comprehensive Better Hometown/Main Street work plan with goals and objectives based on the 4 Points (Organization, Design, Promotions, Economic Restructuring). Possesses an historic preservation ethic. Has an active board of directors and committees that utilize the Main Street 4 Point Approach™. Has an adequate operating budget with income from a variety of sources. Has a paid professional program manager (20 hrs./wk. minimum for Better Hometown cities; Full-time for Main Street cities). Participates in on-going training for staff, board and volunteers. Reports keys statistics (completes the required Economic Activity Reports in a timely manner). The Office of Downtown Developments' ability to assist a community in revitalizing its downtown is dependent upon the local commitment. Therefore, all designees will be required to enter into a Letter of Agreement with the Office of Downtown Development, which specifies that failure to comply with any of the above minimum requirements is reason for removal of Main Street/Better Hometown Designation and dismissal from the program. Eligibility Requirements In order to apply for Classic Main Street designation, the city must have a population between 5,000 and 50,000 according to the 2000 census. In order to apply for Better Hometown designation, the city must have a population under 5,000 according to the 2000 census.