Your Main Street Program
Partnerships and relationships can leverage your work, make Main Street even more successful, and create a win–win situation for the entire community.
The first step in building partnerships is to have a clear understanding of your own organization — its structure and bylaws, vision and mission, strategic plan and work plan. It also is important to be familiar with your memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Colorado Main Street, your board members and their roles, and how your local program is organized. (Note: If your local program is municipal based (within the town, or as a DDA or URA), then some board activity may be governed by Colorado state statute; for an overview, see the Colorado Municipal League’s Handbook for Appointed Boards and Commissions.)
Why Build Partnerships?
There is nothing in business today that provides as much economic and social benefit, on as many levels, to as many stakeholders, as a strategic partnership between any combination of the nonprofit, for profit, education and government sectors when focused on the greater good. Nothing else even comes close.
— Bruce Burtch, author and partnership expert
Main Street organizations are just one of several groups that typically work in communities to improve the business environment. The overlapping roles of chambers of commerce, visitors bureaus, economic development agencies, municipalities, and other community organizations can be wonderful opportunities to partner. Together, these groups create even more energy and efficiency to accomplish shared goals.
The truth is, Main Street Programs cannot be successful without partnerships. Local programs already partner with the State of Colorado through DOLA, as well as the National Main Street Program. Most also partner with the chamber and municipality. But to be wildly successful, Main Streets require relationships that are mutually beneficial.
