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6. HPSC 07-15-2010MEMORANDUM per TO: Historic Preservation Commission FROM: Annie Deckert, Economic Development Assistant DATE: 15 July 2010 SUBJECT: MN Main Street Program Update ATTACHMENTS • MN Main Street Informatio^ BACKGROUND In May of 2010, the Preservation Alliance of MN launched the MN Main Street Pxogxam; an economic development program that assists local communities in promoting revitalization efforts and capitalizing on unique assets and character of historic downtowns. Emily Noxthy, MN Main Street Program Coordinator presented information to the Housing Redevelopment Authorit3~ (HRA) at the June 7`~' HRH meeting discussing the program and different levels of involvement the City could partake in. Staff suggested that the Associate Member level may be the best fit fox the downtown. The HRA directed staff to share the information with the downtown River's Edge business association group as well as the Historic Pxesemation Commission. UPDATE At the June 9`" River's Edge meeting, the association elected to become an Associate Member of the MN Main Street Pxogxam. Nicole Fox, owner of Nicole's Salon will be the group's representative for the program. An Associate Membership includes the following: • Discounted registration for downtown trainings • Access to E-Newsletter • Access to mass distribution list (all MN Associate Members) The River's Edge group expressed interest in having an HPC Commissioner attend a future River's Edge meeting to discuss the current efforts of the group. The newsletter can be provided to the HPC upon request. Emily Northey Minnesota Main Street -Preservation Alliance of Minnesota 416 Landmark Center, 75 W. 5`" Street St. Paul, MN 55102 www.mnpreservation.org/ programs/main-street May 27, 2010 Subject: Minnesota Main Street Application We are excited to be launching Minnesota Main Street to assist local communities in their commercial district revitalization efforts. This first year, we have a very short application window for communities to apply and be accepted as Designated Minnesota Main Street programs due to funding time constraints. The difference between "Designated MN Main Street Communities" and 'Associate Members"... Designated Minnesota Main Street Program This is a local commercial district revitalization program that uses the Four-Point approach, has broad community support, paid staff, and meets (or will soon be able to meet) other standards. Associate Member Community of Minnesota Main Street This may range from a community just learning about Main Street with a group of volunteers to a long- standing downtown development group with years of success under its belt. We want to ensure that we are helping communities succeed with this model of downtown revitalization. To provide us with the necessary time to make this important selection, we are requesting that the following application be filled out and returned to the office of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota no later than 5 p.m. on June 21, 2010. Documents included with this cover letter are: • Associate Member Community of Minnesota Main Street- Registration Form • Designated Minnesota Main Street Program -Application Packet o Selection Criteria to be used in reviewing Designated applications o Memorandum of Understanding for Designated Communities -This is a draft pending legal review Minnesota Main Street is already in the process of considering our application timeline for the 2011 program designation. Please note that applicants not selected in 2010 will be given feedback about their a pplication to use in reapplying in 2011. The 2011 application process will also favorably weight applications from communities that are Minnesota Main Street Associate Members this year. Thank you for taking the time and effort to submit this application for Minnesota Main Street's re-inaugural year. Please contact me at (651) 293-9047 or by email at enorthevC~mnoreservation.ore with any questions you have along the way. Sincerely, Emily Northey Minnesota Main Street Program Coordinator ,- , -;.r= a. ,~~ ... Minnesota Main Street Fact Sheet Minnesota Main Street is an economic development program empowering communities that seek to capitalize on the unique assets and character of our historic downtowns. We assist and promote local revitalization efforts based on the Four Point Approach'" developed by the National Trust's Main Street Center. History of the National Main Street Program In response to growing economic woes and threats to r~ Main Street commercial architecture, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTH P), launched the pilot version of the national Main Street program in 1977. Since then, the program has become a proven small town and urban commercial corridor economic development program, leveraging over $40 billion in public and private investment. The Main Street program is a comprehensive commercial revitalization strategy that helps communities preserve some of their most significant assets-their historic buildings. NTHP has developed the Main Street Four Point Approach'", tailored to local needs and opportunities: Austin, Minnesota-Circa 1937 Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society Credit: St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press. ca. 1937 • Design: Enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging compatible infill, and developing sensitive design management systems. • Organization: Building consensus and cooperation among the many groups and individuals who have a role in the revitalization process. • Promotion: Marketing the traditional commercial district's assets to customers, potential investors, new businesses, local citizens, and visitors. • Economic Restructuring: Strengthening the district's existing economic base while finding ways to expand it to meet new opportunities.' For urban Main Street programs, there is a fifth Approach: Public Safety: Reducing crime and the perception of crime is a precondition for revitalizing neighborhood commercial districts.Z The Main Street Approach advocates "community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, apedestrian- friendlyenvironment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.i3 The program measures success with indicators such as job creation, building permits, construction dollars, Convention and Visitors Bureau counts, and building renovation and new construction projects ' From National Main Street Center Fact Sheet, see: http://www.mainstreet.org. ~ Seidman, Karl. "Revitalizing Commerce for American Cities: A Practitioner's Guide to Urban Main Street Programs." Washington, DC: Fannie Mae Foundation, September, 2004. 6. a National Main Street Center website, see: http://www.mainstreet.org. The Role of Minnesota Main Street As the official statewide coordinating program, the Minnesota Main Street program: Competitively selects local Main Street programs for participation; Provides technical assistance and-when available-financial assistance to communities; Provides quarterly trainings in the application of the Main Street Four Point Approach'"'; Creates a membership network for participating and aspiring Main Street communities by acting as a resource far networking, education, and advocacy; Acts as a clearinghouse for resources for the r .. nt~. Main Street network; • Certifies which communities have met the standards for accreditation by NMSC. Investment Front Street; Manka[o, Minnesota -Circa 1911 Courtesy of the Minnesota Hlstorical5ociety In its first year of operation, the Minnesota Main Street Program will invest almost $100,000 in assessment visits, training seminars, technical assistance, and consulting services for its Main Street membership network. This investment has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota Main Street and its contractors wiil spend approximately 10 days In each Maln Street community and provide an additional six days of training opportunities for participants in the network. Communities being considered for designation as certified Main Streets will receive atwo-day visit by an assessment team comprised of professionals in the fields of design, planning, organizational and economic development, and marketing. Assessments will assist the community in understanding its strengths and opportunities In applying the Main Street Four Point Approach'"'. The assessments will help to guide the community in identifying the best application of its complimentary, professional consulting services provided by Minnesota Main Street. Consulting services will assist in meeting the community's needs in the areas of organization, design, economic restructuring, and / or promotions. Designated Main Street communities are eligible to participate in trainings and conferences for no additional fee. Trainings are open to local Main Street program directors and volunteers. Results Minnesota Main Street seeks to inspire local communities to directly engage in the revitalization of their historic city centers through the Four Point Approach'"'. Local communities benefits from a coordinated vision for the downtown inspiring hundreds of hours of volunteer time, an strengthened job and business base, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in private investment to purchase, construct and rehabilitate historic commercial district property. For More Information: Wi110'Keefe, Intern Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Minnesota Main Street wokeefe(o~ mn preservation ore www. mnpreservation.ora (March 5, 20101 Minnesota Main Street Membership Structure Certified Minnesota Main Street Communities (5) • Membership dues: $2,000 annually • Required: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on use of Trademark, capturing reinvestment statistics, training, dedicated employee, NMSC membership, etc. • Benefit: Use of Main Street Trademark, access to $6,400 in consulting services, complimentary training admission, networking, access to e-newsletter, MMS Program Coord. Minnesota Main Street Associate Member (15) ~' • Membership dues: $200 annually • Required: (No contract required) • Benefit: Programs ramping up to Certified status, networking, provided additional access to trainings at a discount, access to e-newsletter Minnesota Main Street Network Members (50) Membership dues: Individuals $20; Businesses $100 • Required: (No contract required) • Benefit: Programs interested in parts of Main Street Four Point Approach have access to trainings for full cost, networking, access to e-newsletter. Businesses gain an avenue to increase their exposure and knowledge of issues pertaining to Main Street communities. MINNESOTA MAIN STREET DATES TO REMEMBER- 2010 June 21, ~~~---~ ~`~~" by 5 p.m. Designated Applications and Associate Registration Forms due Yes Yes June 30;_ __Communities notrfied bf apphcaUOrt results N/A N/A July/Aug. _ _ TRAINING:_Main Street Basic Training Held Yes ~ _ ~ Yes Sept. _ __ _ TRAINING: Minnesota Main Street Training at MinnesotaState 16-17 HistocicPreseruationConference,Winona Yes' Yes Nov. 3-4 TRAINING: Joint Main Street_Workshop with Iowa and Wisconsin Yes Yes ' TBD TRAINING: Fourth training session bf 201D Yes; _ Yes Jan./Feb. Local Reinvestment Statistics Due to MN Main Street Yes Yes ! MINNESOTA MAIN STREET BENEFITS The Minnesota Main Street Program has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. for more information, visit the Alliance website at www.mnoreservation.ore/oroarams/mai n-street Includes training, materials, community workshops, etc. The Minnesota Main Street Program is recognized by the National Trust Main Street Center° as the official statewide coordinating program in Minnesota.