The National Main Street Center’s four-point approach is designed to improve all aspects of downtown, producing both tangible and intangible benefits. Hometown, Minnesota recommends that communities use the four-point approach to ensure a sustainable downtown enhancement or revitalization effort. The four-point approach includes the following four distinct elements:

Organization
Emphasizes effective downtown management, including developing work plans; recruiting and working with volunteers and board members; building pubic-private partnerships; and working with and achieving consensus among diverse groups.

Promotion
Focuses on developing and projecting a positive, unified image of the downtown area. Efforts to rekindle community excitement and involvement in the central business district can include image enhancement, innovative promotions and special events, and improved merchandising.

Design
Emphasizes the visual attractiveness of the downtown area and adjacent community and the functional relationship of the downtown to surrounding areas. Issues include uniform design elements, building and façade renovations, historic renovation, better signage, more attractive displays, and improvement of public spaces.

Economic Restructuring
Focuses on strengthening the downtown's existing economic assets, recruiting additional businesses, converting unused building space to housing or office use, and sharpening the competitiveness of the downtown area merchants.

 

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