Main Street Alabama Selects
Enterprise for Revitalization Program
Enterprise has been selected to join a statewide effort to build stronger communities through effective downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization. Main Street Alabama, a non-profit organization that uses a national model with a 40-year track record of success, designated the towns after a rigorous application process.
According to Mary Helmer, State Coordinator for the program, Main Street Alabama will immediately begin providing each town with intensive board development, goal setting, work planning, market study with implementable economic development strategies, targeted technical assistance, and quarterly training related to downtown development. “When a community is ready for Main Street, the time tested Four Point Approach ® works,” Helmer said. “It brings jobs, dollars and people back to neighborhood commercial districts.”
Helmer added that the interview panel was impressed by the presentation made by the application team that demonstrated a love of their community, a vision for what they could be, and the drive to make it happen. She noted that Enterprise had a long-standing merchants association that had functioned as an outstanding promotional arm for downtown Enterprise and a solid understanding of the Main Street Approach that will take their efforts to the next level, which made them stand out in the field of applicants.
The announcement made on social media earlier today stated:
“This town with a huge heart embraces a lot of small things. Best known for a monument dedicated in 1919 to a destructive insect, Enterprise stands with the monument as a symbol of “man’s willingness and ability to adjust to adversity.” The inclination to embrace new crop ideas from one of Alabama’s most famous scientists, Dr. George Washington Carver, resulted in a stronger local economy and one of the largest peanut-producing areas in the United States. In further homage to tiny things, this community holds the Guinness Book of World Record title for hosting the world’s smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. We know that celebrating authenticity sets communities apart, so we are ready to amplify these efforts and build an #unbollweevible Main Street Program! #PullforEnterprise #MainStreetAlabama #MainStreet+Enterprise #UnbollweevibleDowntown #EnterPride”
Enterprise and three other communities announced today join Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Birmingham, Columbiana, Decatur, Dothan, Elba, Eufaula, Florence, Foley, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Heflin, Marion, Monroeville, Montevallo, Jasper, Opelika, Oxford, Scottsboro, South Huntsville, and Wetumpka and in using Main Street's comprehensive and incremental approach. Each Designated community listed above reports their success by tracking their reinvestment statistics. Main Street Alabama’s Designated communities have reported 379 net new businesses, 2,364 net new jobs, $303,975,745 in private investment, $83,284,171 in public improvements, and 78,992 volunteer hours in their districts collectively since June of 2014.
Main Street Alabama will continue to add new communities annually. Application Workshops to become a Designated Community will be held again in January 2020. Until then, communities interested in downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization can participate in Main Street Alabama's Network.
For more information, visit www.mainstreetalabama.org
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