FOUR ATTEND NATIONAL MAIL STREET CONFERENCE IN BOSTON

"Uncovering Your Downtown's Economy" "Making Smart Growth," and "Enhancement Grants" were among the more than 60 educational sessions presented during the three-day, National Main Street Conference, held in Boston recently.

Four Cape Girardeau representatives from Old Town Cape, the local community's Main Street program, were among the more than 1,600 persons in attendance.

Judith Ann Lang, chairman of the board of Old Town Cape; Greg Williams, Old Town Cape board secretary; and board members Steven Hoffman and Jerrianne Wyman attended a number of the sessions, including topics on understanding small business, retail marketing, facade improvement program and riding the tourism wave.

"It was an opportunity for the group to network informally with hundreds of other people involved in downtown revitalization programs," said Lang. "We left the conference with some great ideas that have worked in other communities.

Communities represented at the national meeting were in different stages of development and size. Communities everywhere are focusing on downtown revitalization.

Over the past 20 years, since the Main Street program was established in 1980, programs have generated more than $10.9 billion reinvestment nationally.

More than 47,000 new businesses have been created, resulting in 174,000 jobs.

Currently, there are 12 Main Street communities in Missouri, including Cape Girardeau, which was adopted into the program earlier this year.

Since the state's program started in 1989, participating downtown organizations have witnessed the creation of more than 650 new businesses and 1,900 new jobs, with 650 building renovations and $66,800,000 reinvested locally.

Main Street towns receive extensive technical assistance from a national network of individuals with a broad base of experience in downtown revitalization. The Missouri Main Street Program does not offer direct financial grants to the designated communities, but the communities receive more than $40,000 worth of downtown revitalization materials, on-site consultants and fund-raising assistance for up to four years.