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Oregon Main Street
Where place and time meet...
Oregon City
Oregon City—Performing Main Street
Oregon Main Street is a statewide commercial district revitalization program administered through the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. This program, in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center, was created to assist communities in achieving viable commercial districts. In the 1970s, the National Trust developed its pioneering Main Street four point approach to commercial district revitalization.
 
This proven approach combines historic preservation with economic development to restore prosperity and vitality to downtowns and neighborhood business districts. It has created a network of more than 40 statewide, citywide and countywide Main Street programs with more than 1,600 active Main Street communities throughout the U.S.
 

Oregon program
Selection
2008 Announcement
Governor Kulongoski included funding to re-establish this Oregon program in the 2007-09 state budget.
 
The underlying premise of Main Street is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. This approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local owernship and a sense of community.
 
On September 26th 2008, Governor Kulongoski announced the communities selected for the Oregon Main Street Program. Four cities were selected for the Performing Main Street program, seven selected for the Transforming Downtown program, and thirty-three are enrolled in the Exploring Downtown program. Cities selected in the Performing Main Street program meet the national criteria for certified Main Streets. 

Oregon Main Street Announcements
Application Announcement
Oregon Main Street is pleased to announce the application dates for 2009 Annual Selection of Performing Main Street and Transforming Downtown programs. The maximum number of communities that will be selected for each program will be announced on February 2nd 2009. Important application dates are; 
 
Application Workshop: January 14th 2009, Salem OR
Letter of Intent to Apply: Postmarked by February 20th 2009.
Applications Due: Received no later than March 20th 2009
 
The Application Handbooks can be downloaded from the Application and Enrollment sidebar. Interested organizations should contact their city official as soon as possible about your intent to apply and to meet critical deadlines for the City Resolution and commitment letters.   We are excited by the continued interest in Oregon Main Street and pleased by community's efforts to preserve and revitalize downtowns in Oregon. In these challenging economic times, we believe that these efforts will position your community for future success.   Please contact us through the Email Us link if you have any questions about the application process.

Training Workshops
Training in the Main Street Approach is an important part of the services provided to communities in the Oregon Main Street program. In 2009, eight regional workshops from 1 to 2 days will be conducted in 8 regions throughout Oregon. These workshops will provide basic training to boards, committees, business owners, and city staff with instruction on developing a comprehensive plan for your revitalization program and providing practical examples of projects and programs that communities may want to use.
 
The schedule and location of these workshops will be posted here as soon as they are available.

Program Resources

Printable program information (PDF)

Program Overview (PDF)


Fact Sheets (PDF)


Email us

Application and Enrollment

NEWS 9/26/08 Cities Selected

Exploring Downtown—Enrollment (PDF)


2009 Transforming—Application (PDF)


2009 Performing—Application (PDF)

More Information

National Main Street Program

Community Development Block Grant—Facade


Transportation Enhancement


Tree City USA


Transportation Growth Management (TGM)


Oregon Arts Commission


State Historical Preservation Office

 
Page updated: July 20, 2009

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