Illinois Main Street helps communities define
their own vision and works with them to make that vision a reality.
Local staff, businesses and volunteers provide grassroots leadership,
raise money and spearhead revitalization activities.
The Main Street Four Point Approach is:
1. Organization - Developing and sustaining an effective downtown
management organization.
2. Design - Improving the appearance of the downtown buildings
and streetscape through historic preservation.
3. Promotion - Marketing the district's unique assets to bring
people downtown.
4. Economic Restructuring - Improving the downtown's economic
base by assisting and recruiting businesses and finding new uses for
underused space.
Presently, Illinois has 69 active Main Street communities, growing
from 9 when the program began in 1993. Since it's inception, designated
communities have reported net gains of more than 1,500 new downtown
businesses, and created 3,200 full-time jobs and 2,400 part-time jobs.
Main Streets have spurred more than $123 million in public improvements
and more than $411 million in private reinvestments in their downtowns.
Illinois Main Street is overseen by a seven-member Advisory Council chaired by Lt. Governor Pat Quinn. For more information on Illinois Main Street Advisory Council meetings, please click here.
To learn more about the Illinois Main Street program e-mail: [email protected] or call 217/782-5990.
