Mary's Minute - The A's Have it
For this issue of Mary’s Minute, I am touching on advocacy, our annual report and accreditation.
Advocacy: In early February, Main Street Alabama staff members went to Washington DC to meet with our congressional contingent. We had appointments with each of our representatives; Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, Gary Palmer and Terri Sewell and both senators: Tommy Tuberville and Richard Shelby. We appreciated the warm welcome we received, the exchange of information and our shared desire to drive Alabama’s economic engine. I truly believe advocacy is one of the most important roles we play. It is about building a relationship with trust and common interest at heart, something that should be tended to regularly. During our visit we talked about the economic impact of the designated Main Street cities in Alabama on the economy of the entire state, impressing upon our elected officials how important small, independently owned businesses are to our economy and how they play a greater role in attracting industry and manufacturing to our state. It is important to note that this relationship needs to be continually built upon not just at the federal level but at the state and local level as well. I want to thank the Main Street Alabama Board of Directors, and our local Main Street directors, and their board & committee members for their leadership and advocacy efforts on all these levels.
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Regions Bank believes in the importance of community engagement and is dedicated to working with its customers, neighbors, and community leaders to help reduce barriers to success. Regions Bank helps individuals, families and businesses overcome financial challenges by strategically focusing on Economic and Community Development, Education and Workforce Readiness and Financial Wellness. Through Regions Community Engagement, many communities have benefitted from Regions outreach, including Main Street Alabama. Click here to learn more.
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Main Street Alabama Announces New Board Members, Board Leadership Change, and a Staff Promotion
Main Street Alabama (MSA) recently announced eleven new board members and a new board chair who will continue to support the nonprofit's work in revitalization efforts in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the state.
“We’re excited to welcome eleven new members who will bring diverse expertise from different areas of the state," said MSA State Coordinator, Mary Helmer Wirth. “We have worked diligently to ensure Main Street Alabama's board and leadership represents a variety of fields including from higher education, state leadership, advocacy groups, utilities and the newest board members are no exception.” Continue to read the full release.
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Community Highlights
South Huntsville Business Main hosted their annual Cookie Crunch, an event where customers sample cookies when visiting participating businesses. The cookies were also judged by a panel and winners were celebrated on social media. In an effort to celebrate the German heritage of South Huntsville, we hosted the inaugural Krampus Run on Dec 18th where participants enjoyed a family-friendly event complete with Krampus photos and warm soup from a local food truck. South Huntsville Business Main ended 2021 with a Holiday Member Social and enjoyed socializing with other members at The DoubleTree Suites in South Huntsville. Read on to see what other communities are doing.
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So...You Joined the Main Street Alabama Network. Now what?
by Tanya Maloney, Field Services Specialist
So, you joined the Main Street Alabama Network program. Now what? As I travel around the state working with communities, I get excited about visiting those that are taking advantage of being a part of the Network program. If you are wondering how to get more bang for your buck, here are my suggestions. Click to read more
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Mark Your Calendars for LAB 22
LAB 22, Back on Track, will be held in downtown Opelika, August 17 - 19. Check out Opelika's promotional video to see what you can expect to see and experience while you're there.
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As a Main Street America™ Coordinating Program, Main Street Alabama helps to lead a powerful, grassroots network consisting of over 40 Coordinating Programs and over 1,200 neighborhoods and communities across the country committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. |
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Main Street Alabama
880 Montclair Road, Suite 245
Birmingham, AL 35213
205.910.8819
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