Ashland readies as a Main Street community
BY JOHN E. USALIS - TIMES SHAMROCK
WRITER
01/17/2007
ASHLAND - The Ashland Downtown Inc. revitalization
board learned Monday what is required to be a Main Street program
community.
During its regular monthly meeting, Bill Fontana, executive
director of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center visited the board.
Ashland and Shenandoah were designated Main Street communities
in 2006. Statewide, there are currently 33 designated Main Street
communities and seven regional programs with 47 communities. Upper
Schuylkill Downtowns is one of the regional program members. Nationwide,
there are more than 1,200 Main Street communities.
A large portion of Fontana's presentation involved hiring
the Main Street manager, who will be a full-time employee with many
responsibilities in keeping the revitalization program on track and
deal with a complex set of duties. "The Main Street manager should
be perceived by the community as a serious economic development professional
who has an important role to play in the revitalization of your community
and an important resource and advocate for that revitalization,"
said Fontana.
Fontana offered the services of the PDC to help ADI
and Ashland in helping to rebuild the downtown.
"Last year was Main Street's 25th year in operation
nationally, so there is a long history of Main Street," Fontana
said. "And communities that do it well have done a good job of
revitalizing themselves."
The Main Street program is a five-year effort for downtown
revitalization following the Four Point Approach of design, organization,
promotion and economic restructuring. Ashland, as well as Shenandoah,
are entering the heart of the Main Street program after a few years
of preparation and conducting a capital campaign to raise the necessary
local match for state grants.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2007
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