Training & Assistance
What We Offer
We offer a wide array of services and trainings to participating Illinois Main Street communities. Each Illinois Main Street community receives a combination of training and technical assistance to advance their revitalization efforts.
This includes one on-site technical assistance visit per year with commercial revitalization experts. Topics include, but are not limited to:
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Services to advise communities on how to create and sustain their Main Street organization.
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Training for staff and volunteers to understand the Main Street Approach™, their roles and responsibilities, and techniques and best practices for revitalizing downtown.
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Training in understanding the downtown’s economic strengths and weaknesses, development of plans and strategies to improve the downtown business climate.
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Training services to help local Main Street organizations identify and implement effective marketing strategies, as well as individual downtown promotional events and activities.
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Support to the Main Street program to create a walkable, livable environment, including trail-oriented development, transportation planning, façade and streetscape improvements, and accessibility enhancements.
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Services to develop short-term action plans for the Main Street organization, as well as long-term plans that guide the development and revitalization of the Main Street district.
In addition, Illinois Main Street members participate in one program review visit annually, receive phone consultation and coaching as needed, and access all the benefits of membership with Main Street America, which includes:
Discounts on conferences, workshops, and webinars;
Scholarships to Main Street America Institute and other partnered workshop opportunities;
1,000s of industry-specific resources, publications, and templates;
Access to grants and special programs;
And so much more!
Interested in learning more about the program? Contact us at illinoismainstreet@mainstreet.org.