For this issue of Mary’s Minute, I am touching on advocacy, our annual report and accreditation.

Advocacy

In early February Main Street Alabama staff members went to Washington DC to meet with our congressional contingent. We had appointments with each of our representatives; Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, Gary Palmer and Terri Sewell and both senators: Tommy Tuberville and Richard Shelby. We appreciated the warm welcome we received, the exchange of information and our shared desire to drive Alabama’s economic engine. I truly believe advocacy is one of the most important roles we play. It is about building a relationship with trust and common interest at heart, something that should be tended to regularly. During our visit we talked about the economic impact of the designated Main Street cities in Alabama on the economy of the entire state, impressing upon our elected officials how important small, independently owned businesses are to our economy and how they play a greater role in attracting industry and manufacturing to our state. It is important to note that this relationship needs to be continually built upon not just at the federal level but at the state and local level as well. I want to thank the Main Street Alabama Board of Directors, and our local Main Street directors, and their board & committee members for their leadership and advocacy efforts on all these levels.

Annual Report

Main Street Alabama puts this report together each year highlighting the activities of our districts, the economic impact and telling the stories about the lasting impact of what we do. Click here to see the report.  Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

Accreditation

Main Street Alabama is conducting progress visits with our designated Main Street districts. We have been working on this for the past three months and will push through for another two or three. The purpose of the visit is to give the local Main Street board of directors, staff and community partners the opportunity to celebrate the progress and accomplishments of the past year, evaluate the efforts made to implement the Main Street program during the past year, determine needed steps to be taken locally to achieve or maintain National Main Street accreditation, discuss technical assistance needed from Main Street Alabama, and provide additional consultation on implementing the Main Street approach.  This visit is not a report card but rather an opportunity to reflect and get guidance on local issues. Trisha Black and I have been conducting these reviews this year and it really has been heartwarming to see the efforts our district volunteers, elected officials, and local Main Street directors are doing to their city a better place to live, work, visit, and enjoy.

As always, Main Street Alabama is on the move, striving to stay ahead of the curve, and dedicated to serving Alabama.