Downtowns are important and Patrice Frey would know. As president and CEO of the National Main Street Center, she has spent years studying their value to communities and how to revitalize a downtown that has seen better days.

In her Convention presentation, Frey shared that downtowns matter because they’re critical to the quality of life for residents and they have the ability to amp up the local economy. Beyond that, they represent some of a community’s most significant assets – an investment in buildings, infrastructure, affordable space. Plus, people just really like being downtown.

If your downtown has lost some of its luster over the years, Frey offered a variety of elements that can help guide you to a successful revitalization:

1. Leadership – from the private and public sector. Boyne City is a good example. The city fell on hard times and it showed in the state of their downtown. They realized that they needed to take charge because nobody was going to do it for them. In 2003, they started Main Street program and have made great strides.
2. No Silver Bullets – You can’t rely on one major development, like a casino or museum, to save your downtown. Rather, downtown renewal is always comprehensive and involves many elements such as design, economic vitality, organization, and promotion. Howell – the most recent winner of the American Main Street award – gets kudos in many of those categories.
3. Community-led and Volunteer Rich – Really successful downtown revitalizations incorporate the community in a big way. Saline Main Street is a great example. They have an incredibly robust community engagement program and do a wonderful job of recruiting volunteers. That helps them expand the capacity of their Main Street efforts.

Stay tuned to the Convention site to learn more about Patrice Frey’s presentation.