The following is a list of services provided by Colorado Main Street staff. This list is not comprehensive, but should provide a general understanding of the basic services provided. Services are available to communities upon request and availability of the Colorado Main Street staff and other resources.
Services for any Colorado Community
Even if your community is not an official Colorado Main Street, you can access training and webinars provided by staff:
- Training: Main Street 101 - Colorado Main Street staff can host a video conference call or visit your community to provide a brief overview of the Colorado Main Street program and the overall approach to downtown revitalization. Ideally various community organizations and members would attend the meeting and arrive having viewed the information available on the Colorado Main Street website.
- Training: Main Street Webinars - Webinars are held most months on topics related to the Main Street Approach (Organization, Design, Promotion, Economic Vitality).
Communities can also sign up to receive a bimonthly newsletter of best practices, community highlights, and tips and ideas for downtown revitalization. Colorado Main Street hosts a Facebook page to share stories.
Numerous resources for Main Street communities are available on the Colorado Main Street website.
And, of course, Colorado Main Street staff members are avid public servants eager to help:
- Gayle Langley, Program Coordinator
720-498-0563, gayle.langley@state.co.us - Larry Lucas, Main Street Architect
720-402-9303, larry.lucas@state.co.us - Traci Stoffel, Main Street Specialist
720-467-4327, traci.stoffel@state.co.us
Aspiring Communities
Aspiring Communities that have been actively forming a coalition in their communities to support a Main Street program may be eligible for board training or assistance with a mission, vision, and strategic plan, and should work with Colorado Main Street staff on this opportunity.
Benefits of Being an Official Main Street Community
Official Main Street communities (Achieving, Excelling, and Exception) can contact Colorado Main Street staff to leverage:
- Mini-Grants for long-term investments in the downtown that are a part of the community’s annual work plan, and consistent with its strategic plan. (Not for operational or administrative costs.)
- Scholarships ensure that the local program manager attends the Main Street Manager Summit, and for at least one representative from the community (the manager, a board member, elected official, or dedicated volunteer) to attend the National Main Street Conference. Remaining funds may be used to pay for other training as approved by Colorado Main Street.
- Consulting funds can help achieve key goals of a community’s strategic plan, as well as help complete requirements to move up in tiers. Colorado Main Street staff works with communities to determine project needs and identify a consultant from our pre-qualified pool.
- The Main Street Managers Summit is a gathering of Colorado Main Street managers and provides an opportunity to learn from peers, discuss available resources, and learn current best practices. Attendance is a requirement for official communities.
Orientation to the Colorado Main Street Program helps new Main Street managers fully understand the mission and requirements of the program. - Each year, Colorado Main Street staff meets virtually with all local programs to ensure they continue to build capacity and progress through the tiers of the statewide program. This process helps to determine projects where Colorado Main Street staff can be of assistance, consulting services can best be utilized, and mini-grants might be applied.
- As funding and schedules permit, Colorado Main Street staff visit Main Streets in person to meet with the local manager, board, municipal elected officials, business and building owners, and residents to provide a solid understanding of what the Main Street program is and why it is important, and to understand the current conditions of Main Street more fully
- A listserv for local Main Street Managers to quickly communicate questions, issues, and best practices.
- Colorado Main Street staff provides training and technical assistance as requested and as resources are available to help with a community’s strategic plan, transformational strategies, and/or work plan.
- The Colorado Main Street architect helps the local government and private property owners with historic preservation, building reuse, signage, energy efficiency, and more.
Excelling and Exceptional Communities also receive highway signs with the Colorado Main Street logo are available to help identify your community as part of the Main Street network and a great place to visit.