Business Support:
Portland Main Street®

In July 2009, Portland City Council adopted the City of Portland Economic Development Strategy, calling for several new initiatives to achieve business vitality in Portland’s neighborhoods. Among these new efforts is Portland Main Street®, a neighborhood commercial district revitalization program based on the very successful Main Street® approach used in towns and cities across America.

Portland Main Street® follows the lead of urban main street programs in Boston, Chicago, Baltimore and Washington DC, while adding its own unique approach and emphasis on sustainability.

The Main Street® Approach

The Main Street® approach is a community-driven, comprehensive method used to revitalize older, traditional business districts. Main Street® programs advocate a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.

Key to the Main Street® approach are four points:

ORGANIZATION involves building a framework that is represented by business and property owners, bankers, citizens, business associations, and public officials. Everyone works together to see revitalization occur.

PROMOTION creates excitement for the district. Street festivals, parades, retail events, and identity development are ways to encourage new customer traffic. Promotion involves marketing an enticing image to investors, shoppers, and visitors.

DESIGN enhances the attractiveness of the business district. Historic building rehabilitation, new development, street clean-up, banners, landscaping and lighting all improve the physical setting of a business district as a quality place to shop, work, walk and invest in.

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING involves analyzing market forces to develop long-term solutions to revitalization. New businesses, creative use of space, and sharpened competitiveness are outcomes of a more vital business district.

In addition to the four points, Portland Main Street® highlights sustainability as a core value through the support of local businesses and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

Participation in Portland Main Street® begins with a competitive application process. In 2010, the inaugural year of the program, up to four Main Street® programs will be selected. In an effort to distribute economic development funds more evenly throughout the city, only areas outside of urban renewal areas will be eligible for Portland Main Street® in 2010. Additionally, Main Street® districts should be identifiable, cohesive, traditional commercial districts of manageable size (in general, not more than 15 adjacent blocks) whose primary trade area is the neighborhood itself. Neighborhood buy-in is also key – groups that apply for Portland Main Street® should represent a broad cross-section of a neighborhood’s business community, residents and property owners.

Top row: Federal Hill, Baltimore, MD before (left) and after (right) the Main Street® program. Images: Planning Commissioners Journal.
Bottom row: Niles, Michigan before (left) and after (right). Images: Federal Hill Main Street.

How to Apply

Applications for the inaugural 2010 program were due on May 7. PDC is pleased to announce that we received applications from 6 groups:

• 42nd Avenue Main Street Collaborative
• NE Alberta Main Street Program
• Burnside East Main Street
• Hillsdale Community Foundation
• Multnomah Village Bloc’s Initiative
• St. Johns Main Streets Coalition

Participating Main Street Programs will be announced on June 18. To apply outside these areas, please check back with us at the end of 2010 to see how you can apply for the 2011 program.

To Learn More

Portland Main Street® is spearheaded by the Portland Development Commission in collaboration with the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, the Office of Mayor Sam Adams, and the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations. To learn more, please contact:

Claudia Plaza
Senior Program Manager – Main Street®
Portland Development Commission
222 NW 5th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
503.823.3234
Email

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