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Our mission is to be the catalyst that ignites Connecticut's Main Streets as the cornerstone of thriving communities.
New Fiscal Year, New Beginnings
With the dawning of July came our new fiscal year, heralding a time of new beginnings at CMSC. While we're proud of our many activities and accomplishments over the last year, we also look forward to working with a new CEO as we roll out our FY18 educational and networking opportunities, offering assistance to our communities and the anticipated launch of new programs, tools and resources for Connecticut's downtowns. We appreciate your support as we continue to evolve, and look forward to working with you to catalyze our main streets as the cornerstones of our communities. 
 
Patrick McMahon Tapped to Lead CMSC  
CMSC
 
recently announced Patrick McMahon has been chosen as its next CEO, succeeding founding CEO John Simone. CMSC's board and staff are looking forward to working with Patrick when he begins his tenure on August 21st. Once here, Patrick will follow John's lead in working with downtown management organizations, municipalities and state officials to create vibrant, dynamic and economically robust main streets all across Connecticut. 
Jay Williams Takes the Helm of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Jay
 
Williams, a former mayor of Youngstown, Ohio who was subsequently tapped by President Obama to take over the Dept. of Labor's auto recovery office, will take the reins of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving beginning July 17th. Mr. Williams says he plans to be a very involved leader, spending minimal time behind his desk in favor of being out in the community. The HFPG provides many resources to the Hartford region, including the Nonprofit Support Program, as noted in a recent edition of Downtown Update.

Join CMSC in Urging Legislators to Protect Community Investment Act Funds
 
Last week, CMSC was one of 27 organizations that support and utilize Community Investment Act (CIA) funds to sign on to a letter to key Connecticut legislators, urging them to protect this critical program. Many downtowns and village centers in the CMSC member network have benefited directly from CIA funds in the past. CMSC also issued a Legislative Alert urging its member network, and all those who support the CIA, to contact their legislators and tell them to protect this valuable resource. 
Re-Mains of the Day
▪ CMSC Planning New Year of Main Street forums - CMSC is busy scheduling its FY18 Main Street Forums for the 21st Century . This popular series encompasses a variety of educational and peer-networking events throughout the year. Keep an eye out for our emails as we announce our fall line-up of webinars, BRIDGE Series trainings and more.
 
▪ $30M Construction Project Begins on Albany Avenue - After a decades-long process,
 
a $30 million project to improve Albany Avenue began in June. This large construction project has been supported by many generations of community members in the Upper Albany neighborhood and will include a one-mile streetscape project, replacing sidewalks, improving drainage and installing conduits for improved traffic signals.
Learn more here. 
2017 CT Main Street Catalyst Award Winner:
Meriden Green, sponsored by Liberty Bank  
 

Meriden's lush new green rises from the remnants of a 14-acre brownfield site in the heart of downtown. Adjacent to the transit center, it was once a center of industrial and commercial activity, and had been flooded, abandoned and contaminated over time. The City recognized the opportunity to create a catalytic transformation of this site into a city park that serves the dual purposes of providing green space and flood storage downtown, while freeing up new land for mixed use economic development.
  
Connecticut Main Street Center
860-280-2337