What does it mean to have a Main Street Program in the City of Kingston?
The Main Street methodology has been used successfully in many cities across the country to help revitalize its downtown shopping districts. It addresses the following four areas of concern and combines activities in these areas to develop a community's individual strategy for strengthening and redeveloping its business district.
Kingston is unique in that is has three distinct business districts, however the four point approach can be used independently and/or collectively for each of the districts.
The four points are: organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring.
Design – enhancing the commercial district’s physical environment by capitalizing on its best assets, such as historic buildings, and creating an inviting atmosphere through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, streetscapes, and landscaping. The Main Street program also focuses on instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, and long-term planning.
Economic Restructuring – strengthening a community’s existing economic base while also
expanding and diversifying it. By helping existing businesses expand and recruiting new ones to respond to today’s market, the Main Street program helps to convert unused space into productive property and sharpen the competitiveness of business enterprises.
Promotion – marketing the commercial district’s unique characteristics to residents, visitors,
investors, and business owners. The Main Street program develops a positive promotional strategy through advertising, retail activities, special events, and marketing campaigns to encourage commercial activity and investment in the area.
Organization – involving all the commercial district’s stakeholders, getting everyone working towards a common goal, and driving the volunteer-based Main Street program.
Join the Program!!
Volunteers are the key to success in any Main Street Program.
Please contact Nancy Donskoj to join any one of the above committees.
kingstonmsm@gmail.com or 845-514-3998
For all the latest happenings click on the link below: