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Learning More About The Somersworth
Main Street Program
What is the Somersworth Main
Street Program?
http://www.somersworthmainstreet.org
The Somersworth Main Street Program is a non-profit organization and
proud member of the New Hampshire Main Street Center since May of 2001.
Our mission is to encourage revitilalization and reinvestment by fostering
a strong and proud connection between Downtown and the community.
Our Vision
The Somersworth Main Street Program’s vision of Downtown Somersworth
is an attractive, friendly, vibrant New England town with a lively riverfront,
thriving businesses and a center where the community gathers to celebrate
its unique culture and heritage.
What is the New Hampshire Main
Street Center?
http://www.nhcdfa.org/mainstreet.html
The New Hampshire Main Street Center (NHMSC) is a comprehensive revitalization
program that promotes the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional
business districts in New Hampshire. The NHMSC was established in 1996
to encourage and support the revitalization of Downtowns in New Hampshire.
It is a statewide initiative supported by the NH Community Development
Finance Authority and private investment dollars. For more information
about the NHMSC, call 603.223.9942.
How does the Main Street Program
Work?
To revitilze downtown's communities across the country have adopted
a national methodology to downtown renewal. It's called the Main Street
Four Point, Eight Principal approach.
Four Points:
The Main Street methodology addresses the following four areas (points)
of concern and combines activities in these areas to develop a community's
individual strategy for redeveloping downtown.
They are organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring.
Eight Principles:
Countless experiences in helping communities bring renewed life to
downtowns have shown time and again that Main Street Four-Point Approach
succeeds only when combined with the following eight foundation principles:
Comprehensive, Incremental, Self-help, Public/private partnership, Identifying
and capitalizing on existing assets, Quality, Change,
Action-oriented.
Four Points
1.) ORGANIZATION
The Main Street approach to downtown revitalization requires the effort
of the entire community. The merchants, property owners, local government
officials, and civic leaders must agree to support common goals for revitalization
and join together in a partnership. The downtown development organization
and the local Main Street program manager are key players. A local program
manager is necessary to act as an advocate for the downtown and to coordinate
the various efforts of individuals and groups to ensure that all are working
together to develop the downtown.
2.) PROMOTION
The promotion of the downtown as a single, unified commercial area
- in the same way that a major shopping mall is promoted - will help attract
customers and strengthen Main Street's role as a viable business center.
The downtown organization can coordinate an aggressive promotion and marketing
campaign that includes a program of special events and business promotions.
If it is to thrive, the downtown must improve both its self-image and the
image it projects to potential customers and investors.
3.) DESIGN
Good design is essential to all aspects of downtown revitalization.
The Main Street design philosophy is not a "purist" preservation approach,
but one that seeks to utilize and enhance those elements of quality design
that remain in each building. Good design must be extended to include promotional
literature, store window and merchandise displays, public building improvements,
and street amenities.
4.) ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING
Economic restructuring seeks to change the ways in which downtown "works"
by restoring many of the elements that Main Street has lost over the past
few decades. While many small downtowns may not regain their dominance
as primary retail centers, careful economic and market analysis usually
confirms that they can maintain economic strength by diversifying the present
mix of retail uses and by attracting new retail and non-retail functions,
including office, recreation services, and residential uses. Retail and
business retention and recruitment, development of effective merchandising
techniques, encouraging entrepreneurial reuse of upper stories for downtown
housing and office space, and better utilization of existing and potential
recreational assets are all aspects of economic restructuring.
Successful Main Street programs are usually structured as a non-profit
corporation guided by an active working board. Four standing committees
that correspond to the four points develop projects and work plans for
implementation. Local programs hire a paid director to help coordinate
the efforts of volunteers and implement the program.
Eight Principles
1.) Comprehensive
A single project cannot revitalize a downtown or commercial neighborhood.
An ongoing series of initiatives of the four points is vital to build community
support and create lasting progress.
2.) 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 problems. Over time, small changes make
a dramatic difference in the commercial district.
3.) Self-help
The New Hampshire Main Street Center can provide valuable direction
and hands-on technical assistance, but only local leadership will bring
long-term success by fostering and demonstrating grassroots community involvement
and building local capacity entrepreneurism and commitment to the revitalization
effort.
4.) Public/private partnership
Every local Main Street program needs the support and expertise of
both the public and private sectors. Both local government and the private
sector bear responsibility for funding the local Main Street program.
5.) Identifying and capitalizing on existing assets
To avoid mistakes or creating false expectations, one of the New Hampshire
Main Street Center's key goals is to empower communities to recognize and
make the best use of their unique offerings. Local assets provide the solid
foundation of a successful Main Street initiative.
6.) Quality
From storefront design to promotional campaigns to graphics to special
events, quality must be the goal. The local Main Street program and the
commercial district must be synonymous with quality.
7.) Change
Changing community attitudes and habits is essential to bring about
a commercial district renaissance. A carefully planned Main Street program
will help create paradigm shifts that change public perceptions and practices
to support and sustain the revitalization process.
8.) 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 merchants and the community
that the revitalization effort is under way. This requires the hands-on
involvement of program leaders, staff, and volunteers.
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