The Latest News For You
Evening of Excellence Virtual Awards Ceremony
July 30th at 7PM on Facebook Live!
MMSC will host an awards ceremony that will take place Thursday, July 30th at 7PM to honor and celebrate communities, individuals, businesses, and organizations from across the state that have completed exemplary work in downtown revitalization. Competitive nominations were submitted for projects, activities, and individuals in 15 different categories that covered aspects of design, economic vitality, organization, promotion, and other efforts in downtown revitalization. MMSC will award organizations in categories such as Outstanding Public Official, Premier Partner, Volunteer of the Year, Creative New Event, Business of the Year, Outstanding Economic Impact Project, Best Downtown Housing Project, Best Historic Preservation Project, and more.

The semi-finalists recognized this year from Missouri include local Main Street organizations from Albany, Blue Springs, Cape Girardeau, Clinton, Excelsior Springs, Independence, Joplin, Lee’s Summit, Liberty, Pleasant Hill, Trenton, Warrensburg, Warrenton, and Washington.

Please join us to celebrate the accomplishments of our Missouri communities on July 30th at 7PM for the Evening of Excellence Virtual Awards Ceremony on Facebook Live! Use #EveningofExcellence in preparation and during the event.
AARP Resiliency Project & Design Assistance
Applications Available Now
Missouri Main Street Connection has partnered with AARP to launch Community Resiliency Projects that will take place in selected Missouri communities. The five selected communities will receive $5,000 each to implement their proposed Community Resiliency Project and can request to receive design assistance. It is important for small businesses to activate spaces in new ways to meet the changing business climate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The downtown districts chosen for these projects will be accessible for all ages to ensure the entire community can utilize them as well as provide new spaces for small businesses to use. The application is available now on MoMainStreet.org.
MMSC is Equipping Businesses & Communities
Through These Changing Times

Have you missed a Mornings on Main webinar? We have them all recorded and saved online for you to watch and share with your community members. 
Community Empowerment Grant Workshop Opportunity
August 19th Webinar | 10AM - 1PM
The services that Missouri Main Street Connection offer are now more important than ever. We are offering the Community Empowerment Grant Workshop virtually as a  webinar .

What could a 60/40 matching grant do for your historic commercial district? Any Missouri community interested in assistance to establish a Main Street organization or Downtown Revitalization program should attend this workshop. Only 7 grant awards will be available in 2020. Don't let this opportunity pass you by. All potential applicants must attend one Community Empowerment Grant Workshop. The grant workshop will explain the Main Street philosophy of revitalization and demonstrate the grant application criteria, materials, and process. Jill Purvis, Executive Director of Warrensburg Main Street will answer questions from 12 -1PM. 

This workshop is  FREE , but RSVP is required. All materials will be emailed to attendees prior to the webinar beginning. You are able to view on a tablet, computer, smartphone, or dial in on your phone to listen to the conversation if your internet access is limited. You can submit questions during the webinar or ahead of time by email to  ben@momainstreet.org.
New Executive Director Training
Pictured above: Keith Winge, Pam Jarding, Jameson Howard, Tina Williams, Mike Dimond, Morgan McIntosh, Jason Davis, Gayla Roten, and Ben White
MMSC hosted New Executive Director training for Missouri's newest directors at the office in Branson. We are so glad to have Chillicothe, Liberty, Clinton, Fayette, Poplar Bluff, and Sikeston all learning and networking together. We can't wait to see all your communities THRIVE!
Third Quarter Building Maintenance Tips
Check out our blog for third quarter building maintenance tips!

CARES Act Money to Help Small Business Retention and Development
Is your county or city looking for ways to support small businesses with the federal CARES Act money they received? Missouri Main Street Connection can help your small business community with some of the programming we offer. Every Missouri county received dollars to assist small businesses cope with the impact of COVID-19. These funds can be utilized in various ways to support
and assist small businesses in your downtown.
Trends show that during every downturn in the economy as people lose their traditional 9-to-5 jobs, they seek out opening a business on their own. Entrepreneurship grows during these downturns. Are we ready to welcome them into our business district? Many times that answer is yes in theory but are we really ready to help new businesses get started in our downtown? Is there one place for resources? What about available spaces? Are there incentives? Where do I get a permit or business license? How do I know if the market will support this new business? These are but a few of the questions that new business owner will have and what support system is in place to help them navigate this environment? Missouri Main Street Connection can help you design a business recruitment package to guide and assist new businesses as they open their doors.

Economic uncertainty is also a great time to update that downtown strategic plan. What, you don’t have a downtown strategic plan? Or, the last downtown plan was created in 2006? Trends and the business climate have changed in those 14 years. Let Missouri Main Street Connection help you identify the needs in the community, examine demographic data, and recommend strategies for the next 3-5 years for downtown. 

Missouri Main Street Connection can help with these and many other initiatives you may have for your downtown community. Email kwinge@momainstreet.org to discuss options.
We want to thank these partners for their investment in Missouri Main Street for the months of May & June
Downtown Jefferson City
Love The Harrisonville Square
MAGI Foundation
Main Street & CLG Scholarship Application
State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division (STLPG) is excited to announce
FORUM 2020: Preservation Coast to Coast ~ at Home  
Certified Local Government/Main Street Scholarship Opportunity! 
 
Certified Local Government (CLG) commissioners or staff, and Main Street board members or staff from a CLG may compete for a registration scholarship to the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions’   FORUM 2020 ~ at Home virtual conference
August 3-9, 2020! 
 
STLPG will cover the $100 conference registration fees for CLG commissioners or staff, and Main Street board members or staff  IF they are located in an active CLG . 
 
Applications are due  July 27th, 2020 .
Save The Date!
Join us for our next Quarterly Workshop on November 6, 2020 in Warrensburg, MO.

More details coming soon!
Missouri Main Street Connection | 417-334-3014 | info@momainstreet.org | momainstreet.org
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.