Our Main Street Committees

Committees are the backbone of a successful Main Street program. A phenomenal amount of activity must be carefully coordinated if a commercial district revitalization program is to achieve its goals. The following committees are the vehicles through which the Havre de Grace Main Street Board of Directors follows the nationally proven Main Street Four-Point Approach:

ORGANIZATION gets everyone working toward the same goal by building consensus among the many groups that play a role and have a stake in the economic viability of the Main Street district. Organization also establishes an organizational structure of board and committees, conducts membership drives, forms community relationships, and assembles financial resources to operate our Main Street program. Click to read about some of the Organization Committee’s recent accomplishments.

PROMOTION devises an effective strategy for projecting a positive image of the downtown business district and encourages everyone to live, work, shop, and play in the Main Street area. This includes marketing the downtown’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses, artists, tourists, and others, and organizing special programs and benefits to enhance the value of membership. Click to read about some of the Promotion Committee’s recent accomplishments.

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING strengthens our community’s existing economic base and finds ways to expand and diversify to meet new opportunities and challenges. These activities include helping existing downtown businesses succeed, recruiting new businesses to provide a balanced mix, converting unused space into productive property, and sharpening the competitiveness of downtown merchants. By strengthening the downtown’s economy, communities are able to support the ongoing use of historic commercial buildings, preserving unique community assets. Click to read about some of the Economic Restructuring Committee’s recent accomplishments.

DESIGN gets the Main Street area into top physical shape and creates an inviting atmosphere through attractive windows, lighting, banners, signs, and rehabilitation of historic buildings. This involves enhancing not just the appearance of these elements, but also creating parking, sidewalks, ease of traffic flow, and anything else that conveys a positive visual message about downtown and what is has to offer. Click to read about some of the Design Committee’s recent accomplishments.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT is responsible for the administration of the Arts & Entertainment District, effective July 1, 2008. They are working toward creating an art gallery within the district and will be maintaining the building inventory that was created earlier. The committee plans to use art and cultural resources to revitalize and bring events to the downtown area, while maintaining our small town charm. Among the primary benefits of an Arts & Entertainment District designation are tax credits for qualifying new and existing businesses and artists in the district.