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The Heart of Main Street
CT Main Street Center announces inaugural accelerator program
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e’ve said it before and it bears repeating that Main Streets are the heart of our towns and cities – so healthy hearts make healthy municipalities. To continue that metaphor, sometimes you need a doctor to give you guidance on a healthy lifestyle, and fortunately for Connecticut, we have the Connecticut Main Street Center. And they have just implemented a new Main Street Accelerator program and the inaugural class that will help towns and cities get their main streets pumping. In an overview of the program, they cite their new 6-month accelerator program as “a perfect fit for a community that has a challenge or opportunity that has been identified and has public support, but needs organization, guidance, and extra attention.” This action-oriented program will give participants access to group calls, some grant funding, project templates and more. By the end of the program, the participating groups will have a completed project plan, putting them in position to execute the project. Whether a town is looking to tackle a single initiative or rehaul the direction of their downtowns, Connecticut Main Street Center says that the Four Point Main Street Approach is nationally proven, and will help these towns reach their goals. It’s also been said before that our Main Streets are hurting, that any number of factors – COVID included – has hit municipalities hard. Now is the time to get out there and exercise those main streets to make sure they are healthy for the
future – and Dr. CMSC is there to help. The inaugural group of towns are: Georgetown Village Restoration, Inc. (GVR) – GVR team members will examine how to increase exposure and foot traffic in Georgetown to help support businesses and the community. Town of Thomaston – Municipal officials and downtown volunteers will work collaboratively to create a strong network of downtown businesses and begin revitalizing Downtown Thomaston’s historic and visual assets. East Side NRZ, Bridgeport – Representatives from the NRZ and the City will create an accessible document that provides actionable solutions for businesses to revital-
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ize their storefronts. Downtown Windsor – A local business owner and Windsor’s First Town Downtown director will reimagine the ground floor VFW ballroom into a beer hall-type facility. Town of Haddam – Municipal economic development commissioners, the town’s selectwoman, and local business owners will work together to improve signage, mapping, and the overall visual appeal between the town’s two village centers. Norwich Community Development Corporation – Planners and local development organizations will collaborate on how to change the perception of downtown Norwich by enticing tourists through cooperative marketing and events with local groups.
