STE. GENEVIEVE – The city of Ste. Genevieve has been awarded the Community Empowerment Service Grant from Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) following a competitive application process.
The Community Empowerment Grant is a 70/30 matching service grant, worth a total of $44,110, that provides training, mentoring, and technical services to Ste. Genevieve’s stakeholders with an end goal of establishing a local Main Street program to implement downtown revitalization in Ste. Genevieve’s historic commercial district.
During the next two years, MMSC and Ste Genevieve’s stakeholders will engage the entire community through on-site visits that guide the development and implementation of a new Main Street program. The onsite visits include conducting a town hall community input session; training on the Main Street Approach™; fund-raising; action planning; the development of economic strategies; and customized technical services.
MMSC State Director Gayla Roten noted, “This service grant will help to organize downtown revitalization efforts in downtown Ste. Genevieve, bringing a time-tested economic development methodology. There has been a great support for this effort from various community partners, and we are excited to assist in these efforts!
With support from MMSC, Ste. Genevieve leaders anticipate:
- The creation of a new, strong, sustainable, locally led organization focused on downtown development through the Main Street Approach;
- The implementation of community ideas using the time-tested comprehensive Main Street Methodology for economic development
The Main Street program formed from this service will implement, with community support and partners, strategies to build a successful downtown with new investment, businesses, residents, and experiences, celebrating all that makes Ste. Genevieve’s historic commercial district the heart of the community. Ste. Genevieve is now designated in the Community Empowerment Grant tier in the Missouri Main Street Tier Structure, which ranks progress on standards established by Main Street America.
About the Community Empowerment Service Grant
The Community Empowerment Service Grant is a 70/30 matching service grant program that assists local stakeholders in forming a nonprofit, 501(C)3 Main Street organization. Through the implementation of these services, MMSC delivers “over the shoulder” guidance and encouragement that assists in building a sustainable, volunteer-based organization that will carry out an economic development program based on the preservation of historic assets in the downtown, using the Main Street Approach™ to revitalization. About Missouri Main Street Connection Missouri Main Street Connection is the leading statewide nonprofit organization devoted to preservation-based economic development. Through the Main Street America™ movement and our partners, we empower community revitalization by celebrating, supporting, and sustaining Missouri historic commercial districts in both rural and urban settings. Since 2005, Missouri Main Street communities have seen $1 billion in public and private investment and MMSC has worked in over 180 communities. These Missouri Main Street communities and districts are thriving and vibrant by engaging the community members in revitalization strategies to create experiences that preserve their history and culture.
Follow Missouri Main Street Connection on Facebook @MissouriMainStreetConnection and Instagram @MOmainstreet. For additional information, contact State Director Gayla Roten at 417- 334-3014. Mailing address for inquiries: PO Box 1066, Branson, MO 65615.