Mississippi Main Street Association

THE MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND REVITALIZE MISSISSIPPI'S HISTORIC DOWNTOWNS AND DISTRICTS.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:DURING THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR, THE MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION (MMSA) PROVIDED COMMUNITY SERVICES TO ASSIST THE 48 DESIGNATED MEMBER PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE. COMMUNITY SERVICES CONSIST OF COMMUNITY VISITS, CONSULTATIONS, AND PROGRAM SERVICES THAT PERTAIN TO THE MAIN STREET APPROACH IN DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION - ORGANIZATION, PROMOTION, DESIGN, AND ECONOMIC VITALITY. THESE COMMUNITY SERVICES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: WORK PLAN DEVELOPMENT, GRANT ALLOCATION, DESIGN SERVICES (DESIGN RENDERINGS, DESIGN GUIDANCE, ASSISTANCE WITH DESIGN GUIDELINES/ORDINANCES, EDUCATION IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY REGARDING HISTORIC TAX CREDITS, ETC.), MARKET ANALYSIS, NEW DIRECTOR AND BOARD MEMBER TRAINING, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING ASSISTANCE, RETAIL TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE, FESTIVAL DEVELOPMENT AND/OR EVALUATION, SMALL EVENT DEVELOPMENT AND/OR EVALUATION, VOLUNTEER TRAINING, BUDGET ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND BUSINESS RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND EXPANSION ASSISTANCE. MMSA PROVIDES AT LEAST ONE ON-SITE VISIT AND OTHER DOWNTOWN SERVICES AS REQUESTED BY EACH LOCAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION, MMSA PROVIDES AN ON-SITE WORK SESSION, AS REQUESTED BY THE LOCAL DIRECTOR, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND GUIDANCE WITH THE LOCAL PROGRAM'S ANNUAL WORK PLAN. IN THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR, THE MMSA STAFF VISITED MORE THAN HALF OF THE MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES TO DELIVER THESE PROGRAM SERVICES, INCLUDING LEADING IN-PERSON WORK PLAN WORKSHOPS FOR 25 COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITY SERVICES WERE DELIVERED THROUGH IN-PERSON MEETINGS, ZOOM MEETINGS AND WEBINARS, AND HUNDREDS OF PHONE CALLS AND EMAIL CONVERSATIONS.MMSA DESIGNATED ITAWAMBA COUNTY AS A NEW MAIN STREET COUNTY-WIDE PROGRAM IN JULY 2021 AND CONDUCTED A RESOURCE TEAM VISIT IN MARCH OF 2022, PRESENTING THE COMMUNITIES OF FULTON, TREMONT AND MANTACHIE WITH INDIVIDUAL DOWNTOWN ROADMAPS AND WORK PLANS FOR THEIR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION GOALS. THE CITY OF PEARL RECEIVED A DOWNTOWN ROADMAP RESOURCE TEAM VISIT IN MAY OF 2022 AFTER BEING ANNOUNCED AS A NEW DESIGNATED MAIN STREET COMMUNITY IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DR. RACHAEL CARTER WITH THE MSU EXTENSION CENTER FOR GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVED AS THE ECONOMIST ON BOTH RESOURCE TEAMS. MMSA ALSO DESIGNATED THE CITY OF NATCHEZ AS A MAIN STREET DESIGNATED COMMUNITY IN JUNE 2022. THE CITY OF DIAMONDHEAD WAS ANNOUNCED AS A NEW NETWORK MEMBER IN OCTOBER 2021. MMSA WELCOMED NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS IN THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING MCCOMB MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION, THE TOWN OF NORTH CARROLLTON, AND THE CANTON CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. MMSA ALSO WELCOMED SEVERAL NEW FRIENDS OF MAIN STREET IN THE FISCAL YEAR. MORE THAN $13,400 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO SEVEN MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES FOR 2021-2022 TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVEMENT, AND REVITALIZATION IN THEIR HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT MISSISSIPPI. THESE GRANTS REQUIRED A LOCAL MATCH, AND MMSA WAS ABLE TO LEVERAGE STATE FUNDS WITH LOCAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT A WIDE RANGE OF PROJECTS THAT HELP ACHIEVE THE REVITALIZATION GOALS OF THE LOCAL MAIN STREET PROGRAMS.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION:MMSA PROVIDES VALUABLE TRAINING TO ASSIST AND EQUIP DIRECTORS OF THE 48 LOCAL MAIN STREET PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. CONTINUING EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL TO GROW IN KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL IN DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION, AND MMSA REQUIRES EITHER A LOCAL DIRECTOR OR A BOARD MEMBER TO ATTEND FOUR TRAININGS EACH CALENDAR YEAR. DIRECTORS CAN CHOOSE FROM SEVERAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE THIS CONTINUING EDUCATION, INCLUDING NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONFERENCES AS WELL AS IN-STATE TRAININGS, PARTNER CONFERENCES, AND WEBINARS. MMSA ALSO HELPS FACILITATE REGIONAL MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR LOCAL PROGRAM DIRECTORS AS WELL AS AN ANNUAL MAIN STREET DIRECTORS' RETREAT.DURING THE PANDEMIC, MMSA STAFF HELD "FIRESIDE CHATS" VIA ZOOM WITH LOCAL DIRECTORS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO DELIVER NEW INFORMATION AND PROVIDE A TIME FOR THE DIRECTORS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND DISCUSS COMMUNITY ISSUES. THE DESTINATION DOWNTOWN CONFERENCE, AN ANNUAL, REGIONAL CONFERENCE WITH MAIN STREET ARKANSAS AND LOUISIANA MAIN STREET WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER 2021 IN DOWNTOWN STARKVILLE. THIS CONFERENCE OFFERS A VARIETY OF SESSIONS IN THE MAIN STREET APPROACH AND WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 270 PEOPLE FROM THE THREE STATES. AN ECONOMIC VITALITY WEBINAR WAS HELD IN JULY 2021 TO HELP MAIN STREET DIRECTORS LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP A "DOWNTOWN BUSINESS START-UP GUIDE". PROMOTION TRAINING WAS HELD IN BILOXI IN NOVEMBER 2021 AND INCLUDED EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN EVENTS, INCLUDING FUNDING, SALES, TAX, ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND THE TOOLS FOR MARKETING SUCCESS.MMSA KICKED OFF 2022 WITH A DIRECTORS' RETREAT IN LOUISVILLE WITH 45 DIRECTORS ATTENDING. THE ANNUAL MEETING SERVES TO UPDATE DIRECTORS ON THE STATE OF MMSA AND THE ASSOCIATION'S STRATEGIC PLAN. ECONOMIC VITALITY TRAINING WAS HELD AT HISTORIC HOTEL 27 IN GREENVILLE IN APRIL WITH 40 IN ATTENDANCE. JOE BORGSTORM OF PLACE + MAIN ADVISORS LED ATTENDEES IN THE DAY-LONG TRAINING ON "STRATEGIC BUSINESS RECRUITMENT FOR YOUR DOWNTOWN." THE NATIONAL MAIN STREET NOW CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN RICHMOND, VA IN MAY OF 2022. THE 2022 ANNUAL AWARDS MEETING WAS HELD IN JUNE OF 2022 AT THE SOUTH IN JACKSON WITH A RECORD CROWD OF 260 IN ATTENDANCE. A MAIN STREET 101 WORKSHOP WAS HELD FOR LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS PRIOR TO THE LUNCHEON. MMSA BOARD MEMBERS, INVESTORS, SPONSORS, LOCAL DIRECTORS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE INVITED TO A "STARS OF MAIN STREET" RECEPTION AT THE LOWRY HOUSE IN JACKSON THE EVENING BEFORE TO SHOW THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR THE SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY EFFORTS PUT FORTH IN THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MMSA WORKS WITH MAIN STREET AMERICA TO EVALUATE DESIGNATED MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES FOR ANNUAL ACCREDITATION, AND THIS LIST OF NATIONALLY ACCREDITED COMMUNITIES WAS ANNOUNCED IN JUNE 2022.

SPECIAL PROJECTS/PARTNER COLLABORATION:IN OCTOBER 2021, MMSA WAS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS PLANNING WORK IN THE COMMUNITY OF SUMRALL, MS BY THE MISSISSIPPI CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION (APA). APA MISSISSIPPI AWARDED THE SUMRALL DOWNTOWN ROADMAP PROJECT WITH ITS BEST SMALL AREA PROJECT AWARD. MMSA RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL CITATION FROM THE MISSISSIPPI CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS IN OCTOBER 2021 FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL WORK AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORTS ITS MEMBERSHIP. MMSA WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS A TOP NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN MISSISSIPPI BY THE MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL IN DECEMBER 2021.MMSA RECEIVED AN URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY COMMISSION TO PRODUCE A DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPE DESIGN GUIDE. THE DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPE DESIGN GUIDE WAS MAILED TO 375 COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING ALL MAIN STREET MEMBERS, KEEP MISSISSIPPI BEAUTIFUL AFFILIATES, MISSISSIPPI'S TREE CITY USA CONTACTS, AND MORE THAN 250 MISSISSIPPI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE MEMBER COMMUNITIES.MMSA AND MISSISSIPPI HILLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA (MHNHA) PARTNERED ON A RANGE OF IMPACTFUL AND INNOVATIVE PROJECTS IN THE HILLS REGION IN THE SPRING OF 2022, INCLUDING FOUR SPECIFIC PROJECTS WITH LOCAL MAIN STREET ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW ALBANY, PONTOTOC, ITAWAMBA COUNTY, AND TUPELO. THE FIRST TWO PROJECTS INVOLVE NEW ALBANY AND PONTOTOC, TWO KEY COMMUNITIES ON THE TANGLEFOOT TRAIL, WHICH WILL RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THEIR DOWNTOWN AREAS, MAKING THEM MORE ATTRACTIVE TO RESIDENTS AND TRAIL USERS ALIKE. MHNHA HELPED COVER EXPENSES FOR THE COUNTY-WIDE RESOURCE TEAM IN ITAWAMBA COUNTY THAT BENEFITED ALL THREE TOWNS. THE DOWNTOWN TUPELO MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION RECEIVED FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS INNOVATIVE HISTORICAL WALKING TRAILS PROGRAM. MMSA ALSO RECEIVED A SPECIAL PROJECT GRANT FROM THE MHNHA FOR DESTINATION DOWNTOWN THAT WAS HELD IN STARKVILLE IN SEPTEMBER 2021.IN MAY 2022, MMSA RECEIVED LEGISLATIVE FUNDING FOR THE MAIN STREET COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE 48 DESIGNATED MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES IN MISSISSIPPI. THE GRANT PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE $5 MILLION TOTAL IN FUNDS FOR ELIGIBLE PROJECTS; COMMUNITIES WITH A POPULATION UNDER 25,000 WILL RECEIVE $100,000 AND COMMUNITIES OVER 25,000 IN POPULATION WILL RECEIVE $125,000.IN EARLY 2022, MMSA PARTNERED ON FEDERAL ADVOCACY EFFORTS WITH MAIN STREET AMERICA TO GARNER SUPPORT FROM MISSISSIPPI US SENATOR ROGER WICKER AS WELL AS MISSISSIPPI US REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL GUEST ON THE BI-PARTISAN REVITALIZING SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ACT. MMSA WORKED TO GATHER LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM CONSTITUENTS IN MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND EDUCATE ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM AND ITS EXISTING NETWORKS TO PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN AMERICA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES.MMSA CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH A RETAIL E-COMMERCE PLATFORM, COMMENT SOLD, AS A TOOL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO EXPAND THEIR BRICK AND MORTAR SALES ONLINE. THE PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES A SPECIAL RATE FOR BUSINESSES IN MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES WHO WANT TO INCREASE THEIR ONLINE SALES.MMSA PRODUCED THE PRINT AND DIGITAL DOWNTOWN TOOLBOX THAT FEATURES THE SERVICES OF THE COMPANIES AND INDUSTRIES THAT INVEST IN MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION, AND THIS WAS PRINTED AND MAILED TO ALL MEMBERS IN EARLY 2022.THE WORK PLAN WORKSHOPS THAT WERE HELD IN THE 25 DESIGNATED MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES IN 2022 WERE EACH INFORMED BY A COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC ECONOMIC AND MARKET ANALYSIS BY MSU EXTENSION AND WERE PROVIDED A FOLLOW-UP WORK PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY BOARD.THE MMSA TEAM PRESENTED THREE SESSIONS AND EXHIBITED AT THE MISSISSIPPI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CONFERENCE IN JUNE 2022, WORKING TO EDUCATE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING MAIN STREET EFFORTS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. MMSA PARTNERS REGULARLY ON SPECIAL PROJECTS AND TRAININGS WITH THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES & HISTORY, MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST, MSU STENNIS INSTITUTE, MDA COMMUNITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, MDA ENTREPRENEUR CENTER, MSU FRED CARL JR. SMALL TOWN CENTER, MISSISSIPPI TOURISM ASSOCIATION, MSU EXTENSION, AND THE GRISHAM-MCLEAN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. MMSA SEES THESE PARTNERS AS EXTENSIONS OF MMSA STAFF AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. MMSA ALSO APPROVES PARTNER EVENTS AND CONFERENCES AS CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MAIN STREET PROGRAMS.