Main Street Downtown Revitalization Program Marks 20th Anniversary

Governor Jim Doyle recently congratulated the Wisconsin Main Street Program on its 20th Anniversary of revitalizing downtowns in Wisconsin.

"From Viroqua to Rice Lake to Chippewa Falls, the Main Street Program has not only helped restore pride and community spirit to downtowns across the state, but has also provided an important economic boon, attracting new businesses and creating new jobs for hard-working Wisconsin families," Governor Doyle said. "I'm pleased to recognize the Main Street Program's 20 years of service to Wisconsin."

Department of Commerce (Commerce) Deputy Secretary Aaron D. Olver represented the Governor at the gala and awards reception held Thursday, May 22, 2008 at the Monona Terrace in Madison. Wisconsin Main Street is an economic development program targeting Wisconsin's historic commercial districts, which has generated nearly $1 billion in public and private reinvestment to the state. The program has attracted nearly 3,500 new businesses, creating more than 15,000 jobs.

Staff members provide technical support and training to Wisconsin communities that have expressed a grass-roots commitment to revitalizing their traditional business districts. Wisconsin's Main Street includes both small and large communities as well as neighborhoods in Milwaukee and Green Bay.  Member communities have improved streetscapes, restored buildings, completed new construction projects, and increased housing in the upper stories of downtown buildings.

The 20th Anniversary Gala, reception, and ceremony recognized the best projects in the last 20 years and the best projects of 2007. It also inducted local founders and dedicated volunteers into the newly formed Main Street Hall of Fame.  Hall of Fame inductees are as follows: Bev Anderson, Darlington; Fred Nelson, Viroqua; Frances Williams, Sharon; Steven Schmidt, Sheboygan Falls; Greg Larsen, Green Bay; and Russ and Teddy Kostrzak of Tigerton.  For more information on the Hall of Fame inductees and the best projects over the last 20 years, visit 
http://commerce.wi.gov/CD/CD-BDD-GALAAwards.html.

Heartland Business Bank, Wisconsin Community Bank, Wisconsin Downtown Action Council and the Wisconsin Main Street Alliance sponsored the gala.

Program history
The Wisconsin State Legislature unanimously passed legislation in 1987 to enact the Wisconsin Main Street Program.  A task force led by Charles Causier, president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association, and Neal Herst, Director of Community Development for the City of Beloit, spearheaded efforts to bring the program to Wisconsin. The task force sponsors included the Wisconsin Downtown Action Council, Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation, Wisconsin Coalition for Historic Preservation and the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association.

In 1988, the first five communities joined the Wisconsin Main Street Program: Beloit, Eau Claire, Ripon, River Falls and Sheboygan Falls. Beloit, Ripon and Sheboygan Falls are still active participants in the program.

Current Main Street Communities
Algoma, Beloit, Chippewa Falls, Columbus, Darlington, De Pere, Eagle River, Fond du Lac, On Broadway (Green Bay), Lake Mills, Lincoln Village (Milwaukee), Marshfield, Mishicot, Monroe, Osceola, Pewaukee, Platteville, Portage, Prairie du Chien, Rhinelander, Rice Lake, Richland Center, Ripon, Sharon, Sheboygan Falls, Stevens Point, Sturgeon Bay, Tigerton, Two Rivers, Viroqua, Watertown, Wausau, West Allis, West Bend and Whitewater.

Contact information for interested communities
For more information about the Wisconsin Main Street Program, visit their website or call Wisconsin Main Street Coordinator Jim Engle at 608-267-0766.

-- Tony Hozeny