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Our mission is to be the catalyst that ignites Connecticut's Main Streets as the cornerstone of thriving communities.
Snow? What snow?
March is roaring in like a lion but we're still here, working hard to provide training and information on how communities can create great downtowns. Read on to learn more about our new on-the-ground location in downtown Meriden, upcoming opportunities to learn about data, and how you can build better, safer streets for all users. 

CMSC Bids Farewell to Susan Westa
It
was a bittersweet day on March 5th as we wished our longtime colleague Susan Westa goodbye and good luck as she moved on to a new position with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in Springfield, MA. As Community Engagement Director for CMSC, Susan played a pivotal role in creating the Come Home to Downtown program, as well as directing CMSC's participation in the First Impressions Program (on which CMSC partners with UConn Extension) and was an active member of the CT Chapter of the American Planning Association (CCAPA).

Please join us in wishing Susan the best of luck in her new position! 
CMSC Welcomes Downtown Fellow, Cuts Ribbon on New Come Home to Downtown Meriden Location
Lisa
Biesak has been contracted to take over Susan's role on the Come Home to Downtown program in Meriden and will serve as CMSC's Downtown Fellow. Lisa currently works with the Hartford BID and will spend two days a week on the ground in Meriden. You can contact Lisa at
lisabdowntownfellow@gmail.com .
 
Lisa will be working out of our new downtown Meriden location. CMSC is sharing office space with the City's new Downtown Business Center, led by Dave Cooley. There was a ribbon cutting on March 1st for the new space attended by Patrick McMahon, Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati, Director of Development Juliet Burdelski, and representatives from MEDCO.
CRCOG Accepting Input on Complete Streets Survey
The 
Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) has kicked off a project to develop a regional complete streets plan. Planners at CRCOG define "complete streets" as streets that are "designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities". CRCOG is asking citizens of the region to help by identifying locations where improvements may be necessary or desirable. 
Provide your input by taking the online survey.
State To Hold First Make Music Day
Join the fun when Connecticut holds its first annual Make Music Connecticut celebration, part of the world's largest annual music event, on June 21st.
 
Make Music Connecticut
will feature an eclectic mix of over 250 free outdoor musical events, and is part of Make Music Day, a global music celebration that takes place on the summer solstice each year and brings people of all ages and skill levels together to make music. This year, more than 70 U.S. cities and the entire state of Connecticut will collectively host thousands of Make Music performances.

Any musician, amateur or professional, young or old, is invited to take part by signing up at
MakeMusicCT.org . Registration closes on May 21, 2018. Connecticut businesses, buildings, schools, churches, and other institutions can visit the website to offer their outdoor spaces as concert locations.

Click here to learn more. 
CT Office of the Arts Accepting Applications for Its Arts Workforce Initiative Program 
COA has launched its 2018 Arts Workforce Initiative (AWI), designed to provide internship opportunities for Connecticut college students, emerging professionals and military veterans at Connecticut not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations. Twenty-eight individuals will be placed with selected host organizations for a ten-week, paid internship from June 4 - August 17, 2018.

Individuals interested in applying for an AWI internship should click here for more information.  Organizations interested in hosting an intern can learn more here.  Applications for both are due by midnight, Sunday, April 8th.

Contact Adriane Jefferson at 860-500-2328 or via email with questions.
Re-Mains of the Day
CTData Collaborative to Present at March BRIDGE Event 
  Exodus of young people. Retail apocalypse.   We hear phrases like this all the time, but are they real? How can we tell? CMSC members are invited to our  next BRIDGE Series on March 23rd   when Rachel Leventhal-Weiner from the CT Data Collaborative teaches how to expand our data literacy, critically assess data we encounter every day and collect useful information that will help create a compelling case for Main Street.

▪  2018
BikeWalk Summit - Join BikeWalk CT for their 2018 Summit on April 6th as they bring together people from all over Connecticut to improve bicycling and walking in our state. You'll learn from a range of planning experts, hear the latest biking and walking updates from around the state and get guidance on implementing Complete Streets policies in your community. Click to register. 

2018 Awards Sponsorships Available 
CMSC is accepting sponsorships for our 2018 VIBRANT MAIN STREETS Awards program in Danbury. This popular event draws a broad cross-section of downtown professionals, municipal officials and key stakeholders while showcasing the best in Main Streets across Connecticut. CMSC offers a broad range of sponsorship opportunities. View our sponsorship brochure (pages 5-6) or email kim@ctmainstreet.org to learn more

Connecticut Main Street Center
860-280-2337
CMSC PROUDLY THANKS ITS SPONSORS:

The Sponsors of our 
Main Street Forums for the 21st Century

And our Partner Organizations:
CT Chapter, American Planning Association
Institute for Sustainable Energy
CT Economic Development  Association
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
CT Economic Resource Center
Main Street America
CT Preservation Action
Partnership for Strong Communities
CT Urban Legal Initiative 
Pro Bono Partnership
Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County 
Young Energetic Solutions