The Latest News From MMSC

The Latest News For You

Missouri Main Street Connection Welcomes a New Staff Member

Kathy Wilkerson

Missouri Main Street Connection is excited to announce that we expanded our team! Kathy Wilkerson joined the Missouri Main Street team as the Operations & Resource Support role this month. She will expand our research for additional grant funding opportunities for our network communities and MMSC. Kathy had this to say when asked what she was most excited about in joining MMSC, “I’m most excited about joining MMSC because of the amazing work they are doing with Missouri’s Main Streets, it is “Home Town Takeover” in real life. I love seeing the downtown districts becoming a vital part of the community, like they were when I was growing up.”

Kathy recently moved to Branson from Nashville, TN where she worked in the healthcare field. Her previous positions included the city government, state government, and finance fields. She grew up in Idabel, OK and earned her Associates Degree in Applied Science in Secretarial Science from Eastern Oklahoma College in Wilburton, OK. Kathy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, genealogy, and reading.

Community Tier Movement!

Downtown Joplin Alliance Achieves Accredited Tier Status With Missouri Main Street Connection

View the Press Release Here

Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization Achieves Associate Tier Status with Missouri Main Street Connection

View the Press Release Here

Two Missouri Main Street Programs Celebrate Moving Up the MMSC Tiers

Progress is a big deal in Main Street from the first façade renovation and new businesses opening downtown to being recognized for your local Main Street organization’s preservation-based economic development efforts. This year, two local Main Street organizations have been recognized for their accomplishments in implementing the Main Street Approach™ through progressing to the next tier in the Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) tier system. MMSC is proud to recognize Downtown Joplin Alliance and Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization for their achievement of Accredited and Associate tier placement respectively.

Read Article Here

Articles from Our Blog

Downtown Strong Grant October Update: Moonshine and Lace Boutique

Read the newest update on the Downtown Strong Grant that Missouri Main Street Connection partnered with the U.S. Economic Development Administration to provide technical assistance to Missouri communities.

Read Here

Marketing Heritage and Cultural Tourism Grant Community Highlight: Charleston Revitalization Movement

Read the newest update on the Marketing Heritage and Cultural Tourism grant that Missouri Main Street Connection partnered with the Missouri Humanities Council to strengthen heritage and cultural tourism in rural Missouri.

Read Here

Geofencing: Guiding Main Street Decision-Making

There are countless decisions that Main Streets have to make throughout the year such as should we continue doing an event or how do we communicate the impact that this event has on the community and its businesses. Analyzing the effectiveness and impact of an event can be tricky because it requires the right data for Main Street’s board and staff to make informed decisions. Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street utilized geofencing to garner valuable data on the attendees of their largest event as their free technical service through Missouri Main Street Connection available to Accredited Main Street programs in Missouri.

Read Here

4th Quarter Regular Maintenance Reminder for Building Owners

Winter can be one of the hardest seasons on an historic building, especially in Missouri. The constant freezing and thawing can warp building materials and cause damage if not properly prepared for or dealt with quickly. Building owners need to be diligent in protecting historic buildings during the harsh winter months. Read about some helpful suggestions to alleviate problems before they occur.

Read Here

Main Street Upcoming Events

TIME & DATE:

November 4, 2022

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

LOCATION:

Lee's Summit City Council Chambers,

220 SE Green Street

Lee's Summit, MO 64063

-------------SPEAKER------------

Jim Thompson

Downtown Economic Development Specialist, Iowa Economic Development Authority

Download Flyer Here

2023 Community Empowerment Grant Workshop

If your town has started a downtown revitalization program or is thinking about doing so, this grant opportunity may jump-start your plan. Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) offers a 60/40 matching grant that provides revitalization training and services from MMSC over two years. The workshop explains the Main Street Approach™ of revitalization and covers all details of the application process.

The first workshop in 2023 will be on February 1st.

RSVP Here

Download Flyer Here

Main Street Opportunities

American Express Small Business Saturday® Neighborhood Champion

Rally your communities around the small businesses that help make your downtown thrive. Applications to become an American Express Neighborhood Champion this Small Business Saturday® are now open!

As a Neighborhood Champion, you’ll get access to Shop Small merchandise to rally your community to support small businesses. All Main Street America members have been pre-qualified to serve as Neighborhood Champions on a first come, first served basis. All you have to do is fill out a brief Neighborhood Champion application and indicate you were referred by the National Main Street Center (NMSC). Learn more and apply here: www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/rally-signup

Terms apply.

Apply Here

Main Street Resource Library

Ensure you are a Missouri Main Street investor to gain access to our Main Street Resource Library that hosts documents covering all areas of the Main Street Approach™.

Email Staci Cox at staci@momainstreet.org for more information about becoming an investor.

Investor Portal Here

Main Street 101 Training

Main Street 101 is a free online training series that provides flexible training on the Main Street Approach™ for new board members, volunteers, staff, and city officials. This tool includes 40-45 minute long modules that can be used for volunteer development, committee training, and leadership development. The training series includes various resources and guides to help a Main Street program with further committee development.

Click Here For Access

Congratulations To Those Certified In October!

Brian Kirk - Downtown Saint Joseph

Cheyenne Graff - Main Street Brookfield

Joe McGowan - Downtown Washington, Inc.

Katelyn Galloway - Main Street Brookfield

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Kemper Fund for Kansas and Missouri, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, USDA Rural Development, and Karen Bode Baxter.

Downloadables

Service Directory

Heritage Circle

Missouri Main Street Connection

is dedicated to creating and preserving

memories made by generations in our

historic downtowns.

You are invited to support Heritage Circle through a monetary donation. Your donation will have a lasting impact in the creation of memories in your community and many others. Your donation supports communities across Missouri and celebrates the importance of community culture, the value of local history, and embraces traditions that make each community irreplaceable.

Your donation can be made monthly or annually in whatever amount you choose. Please choose the frequency of your donation to Missouri Main Street Connection today by clicking on one of the buttons below.

As a gift of appreciation, you may receive an exclusively designed lapel pin, handmade ceramic mug, or other gifts that show our gratitude for your support in preserving your community.

Select Frequency Of Donation

Monthly Gift

One-Time Gift

YOUR DONATION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Missouri Main Street Connection is a statewide, 501c3, not-for-profit organization and is the leading statewide nonprofit organization devoted to preservation-based economic development. Through the Main Street America® movement and our partners, we empower community revitalization by celebrating, supporting, and sustaining Missouri historic commercial districts in both rural and urban settings.

Thank you to our October Investors:

Charles Clodfelter

City of Albany

City of Kirksville

Downtown Historic District of Willow Springs

Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc.

Love the Harrisonville Square

Smithville Main Street District

Wright City Downtown Revitalization

Missouri Main Street Connection | 417-334-3014 | info@momainstreet.org | momainstreet.org

STAY CONNECTED

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.

Missouri Main Street Connection is an equal opportunity organization.