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Please Welcome Sam Dean, Director of Pacific Partnership, to the MMSC Family! |
As a lifelong resident of Pacific, Sam has a passion for the growth of his community. He graduated from Maryville University with a degree in Data Science and owns and operates two local small businesses in town. Sam lives and breathes Pacific and hopes to facilitate a thriving downtown district. |
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Quarterly Workshop: The Comeback!
Join us for The Comeback! Missouri Main Street Connection's Fall Quarterly Workshop on Friday, November 12, 2021, from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
This all-day training will take place in Warrensburg, MO. Take this great opportunity to learn about the challenges of leading during a pandemic, volunteer recruiting, retaining, and rewarding; creating a harmonious dynamic among the board, committees, and staff; and fundraising and development.
Missouri Main Street Connection is following all current CDC guidelines for vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals to ensure a safe learning environment at our Main Street Boot Camp event.
Luann Feehan is the Executive Director for Nonprofit Connect with industry knowledge on nonprofit trends and best practices. Luann is a Certified BoardSource Governance Trainer and DiSC Behavioral Assessment Trainer. She brings over twenty years of experience in leading successful nonprofit teams.
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Articles to Keep You in the Loop |
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Missouri Main Street Bicentennial Passport 2021 |
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Missouri’s Bicentennial Celebration has been in high gear for most of 2021. Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) organized and produced the Missouri Main Street Bicentennial Passport which gave travelers and residents the opportunity to visit many different communities for the local Bicentennial celebrations.
There were nearly 50 events in over 30 communities throughout the year with eight upcoming events in October. Many communities told us that their event was well attended and noticed visitors from places in Missouri they don’t normally see. Visitors with passports were excited to get their stamp. Those with 21 or more stamps are eligible to enter a drawing at the end of the year for some great prizes! Consult your passport or go to www.momainstreet.org/Bicentennial on how to submit your passport for the drawing.
Prizes include a private tour of the Governor’s Mansion, gift baskets of Missouri made items, Tin Pan Cinnamon Rolls, and a framed print by Gary Lucy, among other prizes.
Thanks you so much to all the communities that participated in the Passport. In May 2022, MMSC will once again celebrate Preservation Month and we look forward to all Main Street communities joining us in the celebration. Start planning your community events for May 2022 to highlight the importance of preservation in our communities.
We encourage you to continue to post photos and videos on social media of your Missouri Bicentennial adventures with #Missouri2021. Select photos will be featured on Missouri Main Street Connection’s website, social media, and other promotional materials.
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There is a lot of action in the Downtown Strong Grant world now that the consultants have hit the ground running.
We are working with 12 different consultant groups who all are passionate about helping each business and organization be successful and thrive!
Approximately 90% of the 65 businesses and 17 organizations have had initial contact with their consultants and an initial meeting of some sort (mostly virtual) with their consultants. In these meetings, the consultants have learned more about the business or organization and asked a lot of tough questions to see where the business or organization stands, if anything has changed since the application process, and what they want to accomplish. It gives them the information needed to provide the best services possible within the grant guidelines and budget.
Some of the consultants have already set up on-site visits over the next couple of months and all are moving as quickly as possible to deliver their services. MMSC plans to also have a presence at as many of these on-site visits as possible to strengthen this partnership (business/organization – consultant – MMSC) and to continue to grow these relationships.
If you are one of the businesses or organizations who have not yet had initial contact with your consultant, don’t be concerned. You will hear something soon! Each of the consultants are working in their own unique way and on their specific timelines, but all are committed to this program!
If you have any questions or want to chat about this program and services, please reach out to Project Manager, Marla Mills. We can’t wait to see the impact of this program on Missouri’s downtowns and their businesses!!
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1 Billion and Rising: A Lookback at How We Got Here |
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Community Spotlight: Historic River District |
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Our Affiliate Tier is home to many different types of communities from urban pilot programs enrolled in Saint Louis Main Streets, community programs getting started through the Community Empowerment Grant (CEG) program, and communities that have graduated out of the CEG program and are strong, sustainable revitalization organizations like the Historic River District, the Main Street program in Ozark, Missouri.
The Historic River District fully utilized their time in the Community Empowerment Grant program (formerly the Affiliate Grant Program) and built the foundation of a strong, sustainable organization that is making an impact in downtown Ozark. Chris Schafer, the President of Historic River District, remarked about their organizations time in the CEG program:
“I would recommend the grant services to anyone that is looking to improve their community. The training and structure that was given through these grant services were second to none from an organization (Main Street) that truly understands what it takes to improve your downtown community. It is unbelievable how much support and information is available on what to do to improve your community and how to go about it. The training opportunities that were afforded to us gave the direction and guidance for what each committee needed to work."
Chris Schafer lists the amazing things that have happened in their community since graduating out of the Community Empowerment Grant from placemaking and beautification to community amenities to even events:
- A veterans tribute on the anniversary of the end of the WWI in conjunction with the Christian County Museum and the local American Legion;
- Trunk or Treat Event on the Square;
- Cruising the Square event;
- The Heart of Ozark Gala;
- Haunted Walking Tour program in the fall;
- Friday Night Parade of Lights;
- A beautiful mural along South Jackson Street; and
- A new Gazebo on the Christian County square.
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"This Affiliate Grant also helped us to build strong relationships with both city and county government. It has been a blessing to our organization and our community," Chris Schafer.
If you are interested in revitalizing your downtown using the structured services and resources of the Community Empowerment Grant program, please reach out to Program Outreach Specialist Ben White at ben@momainstreet.org or (816) 560-1722 for more information.
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My Community Matters Grant Ends Successfully |
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The USDA Rural Grant named by Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) the My Community Matters Grant ended in 2021 after providing over 29 services for 10 different Main Street districts. The services provided followed the National Main Street Four-Points of Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, and Promotion for the following communities: Brunswick, Butler, Canton, Concordia, Fayette, Kirksville, Knob Noster, Odessa, Monroe City, Rockaway Beach, Sikeston, and Willow Springs.
The services provided ranged from branding and marketing, development of communication tools, business development, store design consultations, façade photo-renderings, placemaking, streetscape design, board and volunteer development, and upper floor housing development. We have shared many of the products developed over the past 2 years of the grant and would like to share some of the highlights from various communities.
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Communications Tools
Fayette Main Street participated in the IMPACT Communications exercise with 4 other Main Street organizations. This exercise involved the board of directors to assist in the creation of communications fact sheets to help demonstrate the impact of downtown and Main Street to various stakeholders within and outside the community.
Marketing Tools
Downtown Monroe City’s Main Street organization plans an annual fundraiser called the Pig and Swig to promote the agricultural heritage of their community. Ben Muldrow, branding specialist, created a full branding toolkit for the organization and their events.
Streetscape Designs
Knob Noster’s downtown district received a streetscape design for State Street from Andy Kalback. Andy provided not only recommendations about the design of the street and sidewalks but also provided placemaking suggestions for parklets and fun, creative crosswalks.
Façade Photo Renderings
Randy Wilson, architect and design specialist, provided façade renderings for almost every community that participated in the My Community Matters grant program. Many have been implemented with plans for many others to be implemented soon. Photo renderings provide guidance, inspiration, and details on the potential for a building that is sought out by the owners or city officials. Many times a photo rendering can be accompanied by a façade grant program.
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While the My Community Matters grant program is coming to an end, the impacts of the program are still being measured. As the projects in these Main Street districts continue to develop and come to fruition, the impact will be measured from dollars invested to businesses opened and jobs created. If your Main Street program or downtown district is interested in receiving services like those outlined above, reach out to Missouri Main Street or check out the Service Directory here.
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Celebrate New Beginnings: What Missouri's Virtual Premier Revitalization Conference Meant To YOU! |
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Tom Oldham - Sedalia
"Creating a Lively Downtown"
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"Attending the revitalization conference provided me a better insight into how to better revitalize our historical downtown, revitalized my interests in gaining a better education in how to disassemble the myths of the issues of creating a lively downtown, and how to become an example in expressing my passion for revitalization to Sedalia's citizens and other downtowns across the state.
The education that I received from this conference will be used to capture that same passion in the hearts of our property owners, managers, employees, and residents of our downtown.
I foresee our downtown making leaps from years past. Issues we saw as obstacles we were not able to overcome will become spotlights for challenges we can work together and make shine."
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Mike Dimond - Fayette
“Telling the Fayette Story”
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"The sessions at conference connected with a missing opportunity that could be realized in the Fayette Community. Using plaques in front of buildings to tell the history of a structure and celebrates its new occupation and purpose will help. New businesses that could have a nostalgic “spin-off” to a current business.
An example that comes to my mind in capitalizing on the historic nature of a structure and downtown is a former railroad depot in Minneapolis, MN. This was formally a structure that housed locomotives, their repair, and was a connection to the rail system. It now is part of a business park. This was turned into a really cool hotel with a railroad theme, that integrated some of the massive structure components into the hotel décor. A history of the structure was also well documented and displayed throughout the hotel with various photos, relics, a tour, and other items that truly encompassed the building’s colorful railroad history."
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Nancy Saccaro - Brookfield
"If They Can Do It, We Can Too!"
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"The presentation given by the entrepreneurs in Excelsior Springs was very inspiring. I learned a great deal about how to approach the renovation and preservation of old historic buildings, 353 Tax Abatement Credits, the National Preservation Tax Credit, and how these can apply to Brookfield and our historic buildings on Main Street.
The ideas shared by other communities were particularly interesting to me.
The most important thing I got from the conference was a renewed excitement and enthusiasm to move forward with Main St., knowing we have chosen the perfect initiative for our community."
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I Spy Great Work has landed in Downtown Carthage! Read this inspiring story by Executive Director Abi Almandinger about the passion and contributions of the Vice President of the Board of Directors at Vision Carthage:
"Meet Lora Honey-Phelps who was born and raised in Carthage, Missouri. She graduated from Carthage High School and attended University of Missouri where she earned a law degree. Lora is happily married and has two daughters. She practices law as an attorney while also running a boutique on the Square in the Downtown Historic District with one of her best friends.
Lora is one of the most involved people I know as she serves on the Board of Vision Carthage as the Vice President, is the Chair of the Finance and Economic Vitality, serves on the Parent as Teachers Board at Fairview Elementary school where her children are in the Dual Language program, and serves on several boards and foundations around town.
She was instrumental in beginning a program called Restoration Carthage, which adopts blocks in need of repair and cleanup, including power washing, landscaping, building decks, and more. Recently Lora worked to negotiate a contract with the City for funding for Vision Carthage to start Carthage in Bloom, a subsidiary program of Vision Carthage, and also helped create a partnership with Missouri Main Street Connection.
She has received the prestigious Athena Award from the Chamber of Commerce for her leadership in 2009 and has been a champion of beautifying and revitalizing the Carthage community ever since.
Lora is always willing to put in the work to make improvements in our community, whether through sweat from planting flowers with her girls and beautifying the Courthouse landscaping or creating a new idea for enhancing and reviving historic buildings. Lora embodies and instills community service in the next generation. The Carthage community would not be where it is today without the significant contributions of Lora Phelps."
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Missouri Main Street Connection is happy to continue to offer an online training series to teach the Main Street Approach™ to new board members, volunteers, staff, and city officials. The online training is free of charge for any community in Missouri. The Main Street 101 online training series was developed to fill the gap created by the cancellation of the National and Missouri Main Street conferences in 2020. The knowledge base of a Main Street program and its volunteers must include the principles of the comprehensive Main Street Approach™ to ensure a solid foundation. We encourage Main Street programs to use this online tool for volunteer development, committee training, and leadership development.
This training series will be required for all new board members within six months of taking office and new executive directors in 2021. The requirement also includes the completion and passing grade from a 50-question exam to receive a certificate of completion as part of the annual program assessment process. All Missouri Main Street programs under a contract/agreement with MMSC will fall under this requirement and there is a $50 fee for the certificate of completion portion.
The online training series provides flexibility for those going through the training. It will be available 24-hours a day, seven days a week and can be taken at the individuals’ pace. Each module of the four points is approximately 40-45 minutes long. There is also a module on the Main Street transformation strategy development process. The training series includes various resources or guides to help a Main Street program with further committee development.
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Congratulations To Those Certified In September!
John Click - Campbell Main Street
Kevin Patterson - Historic River District
Amy Jackson - Main Street Chillicothe
Bonnie Kipper - Old Town Cape
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This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Kemper Fund for Kansas and Missouri of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, USDA Rural Development, and Karen Bode Baxter. |
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You are invited to support Heritage Circle through a monetary donation. Your donation will have a lasting impact through the preservation of the heart of your community and many others. Your donation supports communities across Missouri and cultivates places for people to come together and embrace the importance of community culture, the value of local history, and embraces traditions that make each community irreplaceable.
Your donation can be made monthly or annually in whatever amount you choose. Please choose the frequency of your donation to MMSC today by clicking on one of the buttons below. You will receive a lapel pin designed exclusively for Heritage Circle members indicating your support for Missouri communities.
As a gift of appreciation, you may receive a lapel pin, handmade ceramic mug, or other gifts that show our gratitude and your support in preserving your community.
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Select Frequency Of Donation |
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YOUR DONATION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Missouri Main Street Connection is a statewide, 501c3, not-for-profit organization and is the leading statewide nonprofit organization devoted to preservation-based economic development. Through the Main Street America® movement and our partners, we empower community revitalization by celebrating, supporting, and sustaining Missouri historic commercial districts in both rural and urban settings. |
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We Want To Thank The Following
Heritage Circle Donor:
Kenneth & Helen Winge
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Missouri Main Street Connection is a statewide, 501c3, not-for-profit organization committed to fostering renewed vitality and sustainability in historic commercial districts across the state of Missouri.
Missouri Main Street Connection is an equal opportunity organization.
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