Leeds Main Street is one of the newer communities to receive its Main Street designation- officially joining the group in June 2022. Since then, Leeds has hit the ground running with revitalizing Downtown, with more than $89,000 public dollars invested and seven net new businesses moving into the area. Keep reading to learn about how Leeds Main Street is working with businesses to grow and connect the community.

Leeds Main Street Aims to Redevelop Downtown with Speed Networking Events

The Main Street Four-Point Approach utilizes local assets to revitalize downtown districts. The four points work together to build a sustainable and complete community revitalization effort. The Four Points are Organization, Economic Vitality, Promotion, and Design. 

Through the Speed Networking Events, Leeds Main Street leans into all four points to help businesses throughout the community create jobs, bring in new customers, and connect with other business owners. 

What Is Speed Networking?

Speed networking is an event that looks to bring together property owners, business owners, those interested in buying or leasing property or those interested in starting a business in Downtown Leeds. A fun take on speed dating, rather than looking for a romantic partner, business professionals are looking for connections to grow their businesses. 

Speed networking can put them in contact with the right professionals in the right industries like a banker to help with financing a new business, a real estate agent to help with finding a new building to lease, a staffing agency to help with finding employees or a cleaning company to keep the new office in top shape. It can help keep dollars local and within the community, something important for everyone.

Leeds Main Street

Since getting its official Main Street designation, Leeds Main Street has made great progress in its Downtown revitalization efforts. Noting that strong bones already exist in Downtown Leeds, the Main Street designation looks to be the tool that brings new life to the area with new jobs, an increase in foot traffic, and capitalize on the strong already-existing community involvement.

Other Leeds Main Street Events

Several events throughout the year support the efforts of Leeds Main Street. As the weather warms up in the late spring, so does the fun. Music Fest & Founder’s Day is celebrated in June with live music from local musicians, food trucks, and fun for the whole family. This event is the main fundraiser for Leeds Main Street. 

Mistletoe on Main is the celebration near the holidays, hosted in Downtown Leeds. There are food trucks, horse and carriage rides, bounce houses for the kids ,and finish off the evening with the annual Christmas Parade. Local businesses will feature sales to help check off holiday shopping so you can take advantage of shopping local. 

Getting Involved with Leeds Main Street

Leeds Main Street relies on volunteers to help make the events possible throughout the year and assist with projects in the Downtown district. Volunteer opportunities include promoting the downtown as a lively destination through events and activities (Promotion Committee) and enhancing the district's appeal with public art, landscaping, and building improvements (Design Committee). If you have a unique understanding of the economics and market of the area and have great ideas on how to invest funds for the community, consider joining the Economic Vitality Committee. Similarly, if you have training in public relations and ideas on how to bring new volunteers to Leeds Main Street, consider joining the Organization Committee. You can find more information on how to join online.

Main Street Alabama

Main Street Alabama was founded in 2013 to be the parent organization for the state’s Main Street Program. It follows a 40-year-old model for community revitalization that has seen great success across the nation. Today, Main Street Alabama oversees the efforts of more than 30 communities across the state. To learn more about these communities and the efforts in each of them, visit our website.