Filter: Downtown Development

Each downtown has its own personality and unique landmarks. However, there are some common elements that thriving business districts share.

Main Street business signage is vitally important not only for businesses but also for establishing the district’s character.

The pandemic forced a lasting transition to hybrid and work-from-home models, dramatically shifting downtowns’ daytime customer base. But communities are discovering that coworking spaces offer an important way for businesses to find and engage daytime workers downtown and keep Main Streets vibrant.

As we look ahead to the new year, we’re also looking back on the completion of one of Wisconsin’s most successful small business development initiatives—the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program.

Main Street Bounceback Grants helped many of Wisconsin’s small brewers keep their footing, emerge from the crisis, and tap into success.

The Dodge County community of Mayville is leveraging the power of partnership to engineer a compelling remake of its downtown, an effort that earned a prestigious placemaking award from the Mid-America Economic Development Council.

Having properties officially listed as historic can afford local, state, and federal protections and incentives for their maintenance, repair, renovation, or restoration.

Determining what your event will be is just the beginning. There are many other factors to consider, such as the image you want to create for your event, how to publicize it, and how to gauge its impact.

As we wrap up our 35th year of the Wisconsin Main Street Program, we felt inspired to look back on some of the downtown redevelopment successes from that time period.

First impressions are important, and the face of your downtown has a huge impact on perceptions. If a district looks well cared for and active, people see it as vibrant and prosperous, encouraging customers to shop and businesses to invest.

Waukesha and West Bend are prime examples of the way communities can combine various economic development tools to multiply the impact on downtown redevelopment.