Annual Report 2003
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CharacterCharacter ofof CommunityCommunity 22 00 00 33 MM aa ii nn SS tt rr ee ee tt AA nn nn uu aa ll RR ee pp oo rr tt An Invitation from the Governor Main Streets are such a central part of life here in New Mexico and across the nation that we tend to take them for granted. For so many towns and villages the main street is the place where business is Photo by Eliza Wells Smith Photo by Eliza Wells transacted, meals are shared, prayers are offered. We should treasure this vital part of our Governor Bill Richardson community fabric, encourag- ing its vitality, and so I am de- lighted to welcome the National MainStreets Conference to New Mexico in 2004. The conference will host fifteen hundred com- munity economic development leaders from around the country, each delegate passionate about their downtown and eager to learn about new ways to revitalize and reinvigorate it. Here in New Mexico our MainStreet program has an eighteen year history of innovation and integrity, and we will be high- lighting our nineteen current MainStreet participants at the National conference. I would encourage state and local officials and business leaders to attend the conference, not just to promote their own communities – although that is always a worthwhile activity – but to understand how down- town districts can spearhead economic development in their region. The vitality of a main street is a litmus test for the vigor of a community, and that’s why so many communities in New Mexico continue to invest in their downtowns as com- mercial, cultural and tourist destinations. I applaud these efforts and the efforts of the New Mexico MainStreet Pro- gram, Nob Hill-Highland Renaissance Corporation, Down- town Action Team, United South Broadway Corporation and the National Trust’s National MainStreet Center in bringing this great meeting to Albuquerque, itself a shining example of the downtown revitalization that is crucial to the eco- nomic, physical and cultural well-being of a community. Bill Richardson Governor of New Mexico From the Department Downtowns are a barometer of a community’s economic health. I am enthuastic about support- ing the Department’s MainStreet strategic planning initiatives, and proud of the work that the pro- gram has accomplished, develop- ing partnerships that preserve and revitalize New Mexico’s rural and urban commercial districts. Rick Homans Cabinet Secretary N E W M E X I C O ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Department Sometimes a simple rearrangement of words dramati- cally alters my thinking. Recently a colleague initi- ated my small epiphany: switch 2 little words and elu- cidate why MainStreet’s struc- ture and principles are Eco- nomic Development for Com- munity. We do work FOR com- munities, not TO them. FOR implies decision-making that emanates from within the com- munity and expresses how it integrates into the existing fabric of residential and commercial neighborhoods. State Main-Street provides skills and resources to achieve the economic goals set by representatives of the local community. Each MainStreet Project is fla- vored by the unique elements, heritage and culture that shapes economic development FOR downtown. The roots of MainStreet development are undeniably and firmly planted in the unique character of each community. Rich Williams Director MainStreet New Mexico Table of Contents About MainStreet . 1 History of the Program . 2 Participation Criteria . 3 Map of the Communities Served . 4 Program Services . 5 Reinvestment Statistics . 6 Meetings/Events . 7 Special Projects . 8 Photographs (illustrating the 4 points) . 9 Timeline of Communities (arranged from mature to newly designated) . 12-21 1986 Silver City MainStreet Project . 12 1987 Town of Bernalillo MainStreet Association . 13 Carlsbad MainStreet Project, Inc. 13 Clovis Downtown Revitalization Program . 14 1988 MainStreet Roswell . 14 1993 Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corp. .15 1994 Portales MainStreet Program . 15 1995 Grants MainStreet Project . 16 Lovington MainStreet Program . 16 1996 Aztec Main Street Association . 17 MainStreet Hobbs, Inc. 17 1997 Albuquerque - Downtown Action Team . 18 Albuquerque - United South Broadway Corp. 18 Artesia MainStreet, Inc. 19 Farmington Downtown Association . 19 1998 Albuquerque - Nob Hill-Highland Renaissance Corp. 20 Corrales MainStreet, Inc. 20 2002 Los Ranchos de Albuquerque . 21 2003 Las Cruces Downtown Association . 21 Directory . 22 Acknowledgements . Back Cover About MainStreet A healthy downtown is an essential element of the prosperity of most small cities. The downtown con- stitutes a sizable share of a city’s tax base—often more than any other district in the city—as well as the site for major public investments over the years. Given that most downtowns are situated where the city originated and contain many of the oldest and most recognizable buildings, they also embody the heritage of a community. For generations the down- town has served as the traditional gathering place for parades, festivals, celebrations, and other com- munity events. And perhaps most importantly, the very identity of a small city is intertwined with the image projected by its downtown. Taken together, it is clear that downtown represents the heart and soul, indeed the character of most small cities. Now downtowns are part of a nationwide movement to rebuild economic vitality known as the MainStreet Approach™. New Mexican communities are using this approach to economic development within the con- text of historic preservation and finding success in rebuilding downtown economy. Based on a strategy of Four interconnected Points, MainStreet provides a flexible, comprehensive framework for revitalizing and managing downtown districts. DESIGN: Enhancing the unique visual quality of down- town by addressing all design elements. PROMOTION: Creating and marketing a positive im- age based on the unique attributes of the downtown district. ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING: Strengthening down- town’s existing economic assets and fulfilling its broadest market potential. ORGANIZATION: Establishing consensus and coopera- tion by building effective partnerships among all down- town stakeholders. 31 History of the Program The New Mexico MainStreet Program was introduced through a legislative act in 1985 under Lieutenant Governor Mike Runnels. The program was run in that office until another action in 1989 transferred respon- sibility for the program to the Economic Development and Tourism Department. New Mexico was one of the first states in the country to adopt this program, with assistance from the National Main Street Center, who had only developed this strategy to revitalize declin- ing downtowns in the early 1980s. “The purpose of the Main Street Act is to provide for the revitalization of central business districts in New Mexico communities based on the preservation and rehabilitation of existing structures of unique his- torical and architectural character and the develop- ment of progressive marketing and management tech- niques as an economic development strategy for lo- cal governments.” - 3-60B-1 to 3-60B-4 NMSA 1978 An application process was instituted, and the first cities to participate were Gallup, Las Vegas, Raton and Silver City. Community Development Block Grants were used to pay state MainStreet staff, to contrib- ute to the salaries of local community program man- agers, and to contract for technical assistance ser- vices from the National Main Street Center. In 1987, Aztec, Bernalillo, Carlsbad, Clovis, Deming, Ta o s and Tucumcari joined the program. The follow- ing year, Roswell and Ruidoso were selected. Each of these communities contributed local funds to match the grant that they received from the State. Today, the New Mexico MainStreet network includes nine- teen active districts, and no direct financial assis- tance is received. Communities receive technical as- sistance and other indirect support from the State program. 2 Participation Criteria Successful MainStreet efforts are built on a solid organizational foundation. New Mexico MainStreet in- vests its resources in communities with organization readiness and a commitment to succeed over time. Certified MainStreet programs must provide the fol- lowing to participate: • An organizational entity dedicated to the downtown area, with its own separate and distinct board. • A full-time staff person who works for the down- town organization on downtown activities (part- time in small communities). • Functioning committees in the areas of organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. • An adequate budget to fund a comprehensive and action-oriented plan of work as well as allow for travel and training of staff and volunteers. • Local programs are also required to attend quar- terly training sessions and track economic devel- opment impact. 3 New Mexico MainStreet TM Communities 2003 4 Program Services New Mexico MainStreet provides communities with the framework and techniques to create an effective long-lasting revitalization effort with economic im- pact. No direct funding is provided to designated com- munities. Instead, New Mexico MainStreet underwrites on-site specialist services and provides on-going training and problem solving assistance. For desig- nated communities, New Mexico MainStreet offers the following assistance: From the basics of the MainStreet Approaches to ad- vanced downtown development topics, New Mexico MainStreet provides regular training opportunities to certified communities to keep them up-to-date on the latest in the field.