FACEBOOK GROUP STARTED TO SUPPORT WA MAIN STREETS

In response to the Department of Commerce's budget decision to recommend the elimination of funding for the Downtown Revitalization Program, Main Street communities and downtowns in Washington State are uniting to save the program by creating a Facebook Group with information and updates.

 

At this point, there is no funding recommended for the program in the Governor's budget - so the chance to save Downtown Revitalization will have to come in the budget-wrangling that will occur in the legislative session which starts next week.  In 2009, the Washington State Main Street Program budget was cut by nearly 70% and staffing levels were cut by 60% leaving just one staff person and a minimal budget to serve the more than 80 Washington communities in the Main Street tier system.

 

Since 1984, the Washington State Main Street Program has been helping communities revitalize the economy, appearance, and image of their downtown commercial districts using the successful Main Street Approach™. Main Street is a comprehensive, incremental approach to revitalization built around a community's unique heritage and attributes. Using local resources and initiative, the state program helps communities develop their own strategies to stimulate long term economic growth and pride in the heart of the community- downtown. 

The "Supporting Main Street in Washington" Group is for anyone interested in supporting strong and vibrant downtowns in Washington State.  Created over the weekend, there were already 164 members by Monday morning.