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Missouri's Premier Revitalization Conference
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE ENDS
JULY 1, 2019
Some of the sessions you will be able to attend

• Game Changers in Entrepreneurship!
• Main Street in Urban Environments - Best Practices for Success
• Empower Change Through Partnerships for Extraordinary Projects
• My “Place” Changes Things!
• Speak LIFE Through Storytelling
• Recurring Events In Your Downtown - Bringing Visitors Every Month
• I Want What They Have - How to Successfully Develop An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (Or Not) 
Keynote Speakers Peter Kageyama, Brandon W. Johnson, and Ben Muldrow
Celebrate Preservation Month
May 2019

We highlighted three Missouri historic sites and seventeen Missouri Main Street communities who are working diligently to preserve their historic resources.

Through this project, we hoped 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.
The My Community Matters grant services began in April with two communities: Monroe City and Knob Noster. This USDA grant will bring various services revolving around the Main Street Four-Points to 10 different communities in Missouri. The first round of services that will be delivered in April and June are related to the Economic Vitality (EV) and Organization points. The Team delivering these services includes Jim Thompson, EV Specialist with Main Street Iowa and Keith Winge, Community Development Director with Missouri Main Street Connection.   

The first two communities coordinated meetings for the Team with various downtown stakeholders to help assess the current trends, needs and opportunities. After the stakeholder meetings, a presentation on the fundamentals of EV and Organization were presented. The next morning a more in-depth presentation was given on EV including demographic and market information on the community and how it relates to downtown development. 

Later this year, the Design and Promotion points will be delivered to 5 of the 10 communities with the remainder taking place in 2020. Board training and strategic planning will also take place through the grant. A competitive grant to assist the Main Street program in funding a first-time executive director will be announced this summer. 

The full list of communities participating in the My Community Matters grant are Brunswick, Butler, Concordia, Kirksville, Knob Noster, Monroe City, Odessa, Rockaway Beach, Sikeston, and Willow Springs.  
Main Street Summit 2019
Main Street Summit is a chance for communities to expand their Main Street knowledge and learn how to advance their programs with the benefits of the Four-Point Approach. We loved having Norma Ramírez de Miess present from Main Street America.
The communities that were present: Grandview, Brunswick, Monroe City, St. Joseph, Rockaway Beach, Pleasant Hill, Concordia, and Forsyth.
Please Help Us Welcome
Missouri's Newest Executive Directors
Jill Purvis
Warrensburg Main Street
Steve Turner
Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization
Megan Derry
Trenton Downtown Improvement Association
Warrensburg Main Street has hired a new Executive Director, but not someone who is new to the organization. Jill Purvis took over as Executive Director on April 1 st and that was not an April Fool’s Joke since Jill worked for the organization from 2012 until 2016 as the Events Coordinator. 
Jill moved from Warrensburg when her husband retired from the military but just moved back to what she, and her family, consider their home – Warrensburg – because of family. Jill learned about Main Street while in Warrensburg but learned many skills for her new role as Executive Director from her education as a teacher. She also has worked with volunteers with her church and school organizations but learned her event planning skills working for the US Embassy overseas. 

Jumping back into the organization has been easy since Jill returned as many of the events and activities are the same, like the Spring Day of Caring held on April 24 th . But there are some changes and new events like Warrensburg Uncorked, a planned event with the Chamber of Commerce. Jill’s familiarity will be valuable as she leads the organization as the new Executive Director.  

Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization (UJRO) has recently hired Steve Turner to the position of Executive Director. Steve was born in St. Louis, but has lived in Jackson for 25 years with his wife Sheri, a native of Cape Girardeau.

Prior to joining UJRO Steve spent several years as a General Manager at Barnes and Noble, and is also a freelance cinematographer and documentarian. His film “The Past is Never Dead”, premiered on Amazon on May 17. He is going to be working on a documentary about the Little River Drainage district in Southeast Missouri.

Film work has meant Steve has traveled for work frequently, but he wanted to stop traveling and get more involved in the place where he lives. He joined UJRO knowing it was a job he could be passionate about and could help build a better community. In his free time, he enjoys long distance cycling. 

Trenton Downtown Improvement Association (TDIA) hired Megan Derry as Executive Director. Megan is from Trenton and graduated from Missouri Western State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management in 2017. After graduating Megan moved back to Trenton and worked as a marketing and sales representative at State Farm.

Megan is excited to work in Trenton’s historic downtown, and thrilled to be able to make a difference in her community. In her new position she will work with the North Central Missouri Development Alliance, the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce, and the city’s Historic Preservation Committee.
Megan is also a certified Zumba Fitness instructor and currently teaches classes at Trenton’s community center. She is also an active volunteer for the Trenton Bright Futures program at the school district.
We want to thank these partners for their investment to Missouri Main Street for the month of April & May.


US Bank
Commerce Bank
Karen Bode Baxter
First State Community Bank
City of Keytesville
Fallbrook Companies
Artificial Ice Events
Husch Blackwell
Lawrence Group
Philip Estep
Jessica Catron
Be A Part Of The National Movement
Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) has partnered with National Main Street Center (NMSC) to bring you this special dual membership. Join our exclusive Start-up Partnership Program to gain access to valuable tools and resources at a significantly discounted rate. This opportunity is available for new members to National Main Street Center. Become a partner to both the National Main Street Center and Missouri Main Street Connection today.
Brunswick Main Street Association Adds Student Adivsors To The Board Of Directors
Brunswick Main Street Association Board of Directors decided unanimously to add Student Advisors to their Board for several reasons. First, ESRI research revealed that Brunswick has a greater than state average of young families with children living here, and the organization is aware of other families who would like to relocate to Brunswick for its school system and revitalization efforts. The organization's goal related to this new information is simple: provide everything they can to support young families and youth in Brunswick through adequate opportunities for leadership, recreation, education, and adequate living/working spaces. If you youth, you have a better chance of attracting a steady flow of participation from their families!

For them to truly identify the needs of the youth, they needed to go straight to the youth. Brunswick R-2 School gave its full support. The organization met with high school sophomores and juniors, shared Main Street’s mission and appealed for their participation. Twelve students out of approximately 40 students applied to become a Student Advisor to the Board. Brunswick Main Street chose a team of juniors, Madison Dickerson and Chloe Lewellen, and a sophomore, Chase Swan, as the inaugural team to become the conduit between the school students and faculty and the Brunswick Main Street Board of Directors. They will lead the charge through May 2020. After that, one high school junior and senior will advise the Board, the elder providing mentorship for the incoming Student Advisor. 

Thresa Kussman said, "We are very excited to have the students involved in our organization. At their interviews, they presented ideas the adults had never considered! What we imagine them doing for Brunswick? The sky's the limit!"
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Old Town Cape, Inc, an accredited Main Street program dedicated to the revitalization and historic preservation of Downtown Cape Girardeau, MO, is seeking a full time Executive Director.
 
Old Town Cape, Inc. is a professional, well-established program with an active, engaged Board of Directors, strong volunteer base, and 3 full time staff. Cape Girardeau, a progressive community of 38,000 located on the banks of the Mississippi River, is a recipient of the Great American Main Street award. 
 
Overview of Position
The Executive Director coordinates all project activities within the downtown revitalization program utilizing historic preservation as an integral foundation for economic development. The Executive Director is responsible for the development, execution and documentation of the Main Street Program, with assistance from a support staff of three full time employees, 2 to 3 interns/student workers, and volunteers . In addition, the Executive Director represents the community regionally and nationally and acts as a liaison to other local community organizations. Hours: 40+ per week with occasional night and weekend hours 
 
Minimum Qualifications
1. Bachelor’s Degree preferred and/or combination of education and experience in a discipline related to downtown revitalization such as historic preservation, urban/regional planning, public relations, public or business administration, marketing or design. Non-profit administration and/or business development experience is a plus. Focus will be on four priority areas:
  • Business and Property Development
  • Facilitating/Encouraging an increase in the number of people living downtown
  • Developing the Arts in the Downtown District
  • Placemaking and Creation of a Pedestrian-Oriented Environment
 
2. Main Street Experience and/or Main Street America Revitalization Professional Certification preferred.
 
3. Strong technology and computer skills.
 
4. Other skills and qualities required include: dependable, self-starter, strong leader and team builder, competent delegator, outgoing relationship builder, collaborative team player, confident fund raiser, excellent oral and written communicator, and effective time manager.

Compensation
Salary Range: $50,000 to $54,000
Flexible Benefit Package
For a complete job description, please visit: www.oldtowncape.org/opportunities
Mail cover letter and resume and any supporting materials to:
Marla Mills, Old Town Cape
338 Broadway, Ste 401
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.
Electronic submissions may be emailed to: marlamills@oldtowncape.org
Deadline for application is June 28, 2019. No phone calls please.
Online Resource Library Updated
We invite you to check out the newly remodeled Missouri Main Street Connection Online Resource Library.
This resource is available to Missouri Main Street Partners.
You can login here or create a username.
If you can't find what you are looking for, please email Janie .
We value your feedback!
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.