Join Us In Kansas City for Main Street Now
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Recently named one of the "Best Cities to Live in America," Kansas City thrives as the Midwestern hub of arts, innovation, entrepreneurship, and historically interesting places, making it and the surrounding area the perfect learning lab for Main Streeters.
Join us March 26-28 for the 2018 Main Street Now Conference in Kansas City for three exciting days of educational sessions, mobile workshops and special events. Join your fellow commercial district revitalization professionals and find real solutions to common problems in downtown and commercial district revitalization.
New! Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for AIA and APA with approved sessions and mobile workshops.
Discounted rates are offered through January 12.
All educational sessions will be in the Marriott Kansas City Downtown. Book now before the room block is full.
Donate 8 or more hours of work at conference and receive $160 off a full conference registration!
View full education session details, mobile workshop descriptions, and special event details on the conference app.
Visit our conference page,
www.momainstreet.org/2018MSN,
to find more information about location and lodging, detailed articles about mobile workshops in and around Kansas City, and available sponsorship opportunities.
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Welcome to Kansas City!
Join us on Sunday, March 25 for the KC Welcome Cocktail Reception to enjoy a casual gathering of drinks and marvel at the magnificent architecture and splendor of Union Station Kansas City! Catch up with old friends and make brand-new ones before heading out to dinner at one of KC's many great restaurants (you'll receive a Dine KC Guide). For planning purposes,
please RSVP when you register for conference
.
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Gil Penalosa, founder of 8 80 Cities, will deliver the keynote address during the Opening Plenary.
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The Monday Morning Kick-Off General Session will feature Melody Warnick, author of "This is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are."
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Jim Rasberry, producer and developer of HGTV's "Home Town" will present the final session at the Closing Plenary.
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Greatest Big Bash Event Ever
What better way to celebrate the end of a great conference than by celebrating the awesome power of Main Street! Make plans to attend the Big Bash in Downtown Lee's Summit on March 28 and experience firsthand a Great American Main Street community - you won't want to miss this! Purchase tickets for the Big Bash when you register for Main Street Now and get a $25 gift card to spend in Downtown Lee's Summit on the evening of the Big Bash.
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Affiliate Grant Year in Review 2017
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Missouri Main Street Connection welcomed a total of seven communities through the Affiliate Grant Program in 2017. Ozark, Monroe City and Rockaway Beach were awarded the Affiliate Grant in early 2017. The Affiliate Grant is a two-year program designed to assist a community in starting a Main Street program to jump-start the downtown revitalization efforts in that community. December welcomed in four new communities to the grant program. Brunswick, Ferguson, Independence and Oak Grove were all awarded this two-year grant-for-services program.
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Brunswick
, a community of 858 residents, is located on the Grand River on Highway 24 east of Moberly. Work started in 2007 and has laid the foundation for continued efforts. Brunswick already has identified two opportunities with its history of being the “Pecan Capital of Missouri” and serving as a quilters paradise. This community is ready for the next stage in downtown revitalization with partners and commitments from within the community.
Photo credit: Brunswick Pecan Festival
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Ferguson
has a population of over 21,000 with a downtown district of approximately 15 square blocks. The downtown district had many years of private investment and entrepreneurial spirit. Successful events also highlight the downtown district with a farmer’s market, concerts and twilight run. Rebranding and building the business revenues back are major goals for the future.
Photo: Ferguson Farmers Market; credit: fergusoncitywalk.com
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Independence
, part of the larger Kansas City metro area, has a population of over 117,000 with a downtown district of approximately 19 square blocks. The Independence Square Association has served as the revitalization organization for downtown Independence for over 50 years. This organization has the network and relationship with the various partners and felt this was the time to enhance their efforts by utilizing the Main Street philosophy and principles.
Photo: #lovethesquare hashtag
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Oak Grove
sits perfectly between peaceful rural Missouri and the vibrant Kansas City metro area with a population of 8,500 and 10 square blocks of downtown district. This community has recently seen an increase in activity and more businesses opening downtown. They hope to utilize the Main Street Four-Point Approach and continue the positive momentum and build upon existing downtown efforts to increase public awareness and participation.
Photo: Best Dressed Pet Contest
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2018 will usher in a new year for the Affiliate Grant Program. Any community wishing to learn more about the grant program are invited to visit the
Missouri Main Street Connection website
for workshop dates and additional information on the program.
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Celebrate Preservation Month in Missouri
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We are excited to partner with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for the Celebrate Preservation Month Roadshow in Missouri during May 2018.
We will be highlighting four Missouri historic sites and ten Missouri Main Street Communities who are working diligently to preserve their historic resources. A calendar of events with detailed information will be available soon on our website.
Through this project, we hope to encourage Missouri citizens of all ages to learn more about the history surrounding them, discover new sites and communities, and understand the importance of preserving our history and historic places for generations to come.
This activity is partially funded by a grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Office and the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Grant awards do not imply an endorsement of contents by the grantor. Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, handicap or ethnicity. For more information, write to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.
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Main Street Showcase
Join us on Monday, January 29, 2018, at Revel in Jefferson City to celebrate the people in our communities who are proud to call Missouri home and who work hard to preserve its history and revitalize their neighborhoods. Help us advocate to our legislators the importance of our programs for continued support.
RSVP here
or call 417-334-3014 by January 26.
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Affiliate Grant Workshop
The first Affiliate Grant cycle for 2018 opens February 1 with a free workshop in Jefferson City. If your town has started a downtown revitalization program or is thinking about doing so, the Affiliate Grant may jump-start your plan.
RSVP to attend
and learn what this 60/40 cost-share grant offers and the criteria required for application.
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Missouri Main Street Connection | 417-334-3014 | [email protected] | momainstreet.org
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Missouri Main Street Connection is a statewide, 501c3, not-for-profit organization committed to fostering renewed vitality and sustainability in historic commercial districts across the state of Missouri.
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