Kentucky Heritage Council Representatives Address City Council

At the October 20 Council meeting Council members were provided with an overview of Kentucky's Main Street Program.  Roger Stapleton and Scot Walters stated that the program was initiated in 1979 and is based on a national model developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  The program seeks to reverse economic decline in central business districts and to preserve Kentucky's many historic commercial buildings by developing viable uses for them.  The program is based on a four-point approach to downtown revitalization and offers grant funding and a variety of technical assistance to local communities. 

Mr. Stapleton noted that Main Street is a self-help program which is locally initiated, guided and implemented.  The administration and success of the local program is determined largely by the community's specific needs, attitudes and willing-ness to work to improve and revitalize its downtown based on the comprehensive four-point approach -- Organization, Design, Promotion, and Economic Restructuring.  The Main Street approach relies on quality of architecture and in the services offered by businesses which make downtown unique in the marketplace. 

A public-private partnership is necessary to make meaningful, long-term downtown revitalization possible. Both public and private sectors have unique skills and areas where they are most effective.  Combining the talents of both groups brings together all the skills necessary to attack downtown's problems and create a unified program.   Unless the will and determination to succeed come from within the community, Main Street does not work. 

Mr. Walters stated that downtown did not decline overnight.  Instead, a number of small declines led to an overall downward spiral, and improvement must also be gradual.  The Main Street Program helps the community decide what major issues the downtown must confront, to decide on priorities, and then to develop a work program that breaks down the large issues into smaller tasks.  This system, combined with development of a strong volunteer network, builds organizational structures capable of accomplishing lasting change.

Roger and Scot will be available to the community as needed to provide assistance in Wilmore's revitalization efforts.

Mary Kozak
   Main Street Director