Downtown Update

April 2020 | Issue 4

Upcoming Events

See what's happening this month .

In the News

CMSC Member Communities

Several CMSC members are reporting how communities are supporting each other & local businesses during these difficult times. Find their stories on on our website

Industry Partners & Opportunities

AARP 2020 Community Challenge Grant Application Round Open. Deadline extended to May 15th!
Many of CMSC's economic development friends were recognized as the Power50 for New Haven Biz including Sheila O’Malley, Tim Ryan, Dale Kroop & Garrett Sheehan.

Our Main Streets need us now more than ever! Please consider making a donation today. Donate any amount to help us continue our vital work with over 80 CT communities.

There are many other ways to help us make a difference in CT's communities:

Become a Corporate Investor - Demonstrate your company's support of CMSC while enjoying a year of benefits & hi-profile visibility.
Become a Member Community - Receive customized technical assistance & professional guidance.
Join our Professional Affiliate Network - Connect your expertise with our Main Street communities.
Give back to your community - Find your local Main Street program & opportunities to volunteer.
Show your Main Street pride - Share your love for our downtowns by saying what #MainStMeans to you!

Introducing our 2020 Corporate Investors:

Helping our members navigate COVID-19

At CMSC, our top priority is helping our downtowns and Main Streets to be strong and vibrant. That’s why we’re as committed as ever to helping our communities navigate these unprecedented times.

Since the start of the outbreak and distancing regulations, we’ve been in constant communication with our members, sharing the latest news & information, hosting weekly video chats, and creating a helpful COVID-19 Resource section on our website.

Below are some of the latest COVID-19 program updates:

US Chamber announces Save Small Business Initiative

Included for immediate benefit is the Save Small Business Fund, offering $5,000 grants for small businesses (3-20 employees) located in economically vulnerable communities. They are also hosting weekly Work Shop Wednesdays and a Small Business Town Hall series focused on various topics to help businesses navigate this time and to discuss ways to pivot and cater to clients moving forward.

HEDCO Line of Credit for Minority & Women-Owned Small Businesses

The Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO) has partnered with the State of Connecticut, the CT Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) and the CT Minority Business Initiative to create a $2 million program to provide financial relief to minority-owned and women-owned small businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Under the COVID-19 Business Response Program , a qualifying small business with 20 or fewer employees may apply for a zero-interest Line of Credit for up to $20,000.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Program Suspensions

Due to high demand, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has exhausted its current amount of funding for both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance Program (EIDL) the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and cannot accept any new applications for either program until further notice. The President and Congress currently are negotiating additional appropriations to allow the SBA to re-open the programs to new applicants.

Interested in supporting CMSC so we can help more downtowns? Learn more here.

CMSC Announces 2020 Awards of Excellence Winners

"Now, more than ever, we're realizing our down-towns are not only the economic lifeblood of our communities, but they connect us in deep and meaningful ways. We know times are tough right now, but we'll get through this, and it's the people and communities like our award winners that will help our downtowns and Main Streets come back stronger than ever."

-Patrick McMahon, CMSC CEO

CMSC was thrilled to share some happy news when we recently announced that eight initiatives from communities across Connecticut have been named this year's Awards of Excellence winners. The organizations and initiatives from Bridgeport, New Britain, Manchester , Norwich, Rockville, Simsbury, Waterbury, and Windsor Locks represent the most transformative, catalytic, and inclusive efforts in bringing Connecticut's Main Streets back to life over the past year. Read the press release

Join our Member Network!

Learn more about our members .

Professional Affiliates

Learn more about our network of Professional Affiliates .

CMSC Blog - Choosing to Connect to People & Place: Ideas for Creating Resilient Downtowns, Villages & Main Streets

How can we help our communities grow & thrive? In this month’s blog , CMSC Board member Laura Pirie from Pirie Associates talks to Westville Village Renaissance Alliance Executive Director Lizzy Donius about what’s working, what’s needed, and how we can learn from this moment.

Read the blog

Main Street America Report Finds Up to 7.5 Million Small Businesses in Danger of Closing Permanently

Read the report

A new report published by Main Street America reveals that approximately 3.5 million businesses are in danger of permanent closure over the next two months, and nearly 7.5 million are in danger of closing over the next five months as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Approximately 35.7 million small businesses workers may face unemployment.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses is based on the first and most extensive survey to date assessing the impact of the pandemic on small businesses, especially those that employ 20 or fewer people. Nearly 6,000 small business owners nationwide responded to the survey, of whom 91% own businesses with staff of fewer than 20 people.

CMSC is the Main Street America state Coordinating Program. Learn more about their work and the resources they have available.

Sponsorship is key to CMSC's ability to provide services to our members, and education & technical assistance to CT's downtowns. We proudly thank our many generous sponsors below.