Mainstreet Initiatives

Why Revitalize?

Downtowns have a special place in the minds of Americans. We have fond memories of colorful Fourth of July parades down Main Street, shopping trips spent gazing at holiday storefront displays, and pleasant strolls along bustling pedestrian-crowded avenues. For many communities, these are not mere memories but a continuing way of life within vibrant downtowns. Residents of these cities and towns know firsthand that such details invaluably enhance and encourage community spirit.

The Clearfield Revitalization Corporation works to ensure that downtown Clearfield and surrounding neighborhoods remain vital places to live and work. Motivated by the goal of retaining or regaining a sense of place increasingly lost to suburban sprawl, these citizens desire to live and work in places that they are proud to call home.

The 4 Point Approach

The Main Street program is a comprehensive, community-based revitalization program developed in 1980 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center. Main Street has transformed the way communities think about the revitalization and management of their commercial districts and downtowns.

Main Street used 4 points to address the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional business districts. The Clearfield Revitalization Corporation institutes the Main Street 4-Point Approach which is a community-driven, comprehensive strategy used to revitalize downtowns focusing on Design, Promotion, Organization, and Economic Restructuring.

Design

Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets such as historic buildings the traditional downtown layout is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere can be created through window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping; good design convey a visual message about what Main Street is and what it has to offer.

Promotion

Promotion means selling the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects. By marketing the district’s unique characteristics through advertising, retail promotional activities, special events, and marketing campaigns an effective promotion strategy forges a positive image to shoppers, investors, new businesses and vistors.

Organization

Organization means getting everyone working towards common goals. The common-sense formula of a volunteer-driven program and an organizational structure of board and committes assisting professional management can ease the difficult work of building consensus and cooperation among the varied groups that have a stake in the district.

Economic Restructuring

Economic Restructuring means finding new or better purposes for Main Street enterprises. Helping existing downtown businesses expand and recruiting new ones, a successful Main Street converts unused space into productive property and sharpens the competitiveness of its businesses.

Information source provided by: http://www.padowntown.org/