About the Boston Main Streets Program
The Boston Main Streets Program is a $4.2 million public-private initiative of the City of Boston and the National Trust
for Historic Preservation to bring the Main Street strategy for commercial district revitalization to Boston's many
neighborhood business districts.
Background
The Main Street approach is a comprehensive approach to providing merchant groups and community center to compete in
today's marketplace. Its four key elements -- design, community organization, promotion, and economic restructuring --
help neighborhood Main Street organizations capitalize on their unique historical, cultural, and architectural assets
while also addressing the many economic development needs around small business retention and recruitment in light of
strong competition from shopping malls and discount retailers.
In 1983, then-City Councilor Thomas M. Menino successfully sought the assistance of the National Trust's Main Street
Center for the revitalization of Roslindale Village in Boston. Within its first three years, the Roslindale Village
Main Street Program achieved astounding results: 33 facade changes, 43 commercial building rehabilitations; 29 net
new businesses; 132 net job gains, totalling $5,141,200 in new investments. In 1995, as Mayor of Boston, Menino
challenged the National Trust's Main Street Center to bring its enormous reservoir of experience to the entire city
of Boston, resulting in the Boston Main Streets Program. Over the next two years, Boston Main Streets will bring technical
knowledge and start-up funding to more than 20 commercial districts within Boston, while aiming to mold the Main Street
model to a slate of uniquely urban issues.
Participating Commercial Districts
In May of 1995, the program's first ten communities were selected in a citywide competition: Cleary Square in Hyde Park,
Codman Square in Dorchester, Maverick Square in East Boston, Broadway in South Boston, Chinatown, Allston Village,
Egleston Square in Jamaica Plain, Upham's Corner in Dorchester, Bowdoin Street/Geneva Avenue in Dorchester, and
Dudley Square in Roxbury.
Program Services
To achieve the elements of successful Main Streets, the City of Boston will provide the following services over the
next four years for each designated Main Street District:
- matching funds to support the cost of hiring an executive director
- Linking up each district with a Corporate Buddy for financial and technical services.
- Technical assistance in organizational development strategic planning and market development from both the National Main
Street Center and the city.
- $100,000 in matching funds toward improvements to private or public property.
- $2,000 in 1:1 matching funds annually to support promotional events in the district.
Each Main Street organization will in turn be expected to provide from local sources:
- Matching funds for the organizations' director and for promotional events.
- Office space in the district -- either donate or paid for with funds raised locally.
- Materials and services for operation of the organization and for promotional events.
City-Wide Support
City-Wide Service Council: In addition, Boston Main Streets will organization the Main Street Council -- a
public/private working group with representatives from City, State, and Federal economic development agencies, lenders,
the National Main Street Center, local colleges, business and business associations. The Council will work to identify
and coordinate resources to support the local Main Street programs.
Small Business Technical Assistance: In addition, individual business both inside and outside the Main Street
Districts will be able to access one-on-one technical assistance through the City of Boston from a pool of contracted
technical assistance providers, and property owners/developers will be able to use the Commercial Development Finance
program for development and rehab of neighborhood commercial space.
Design Services Main Street organizations and individual businesses will be able to seek design consultant and other
advisory services from the city's program architect.
Corporate Buddy Program
The Boston Main Streets Program includes a partnership component which identifies a large business or corporation to
team up with one of the districts. Founding Buddies are: Citizens Bank, PNC Bank New England, Boston Edison, Shawmut
Bank, The Boston Company, Fleet Bank, Star Market, BayBank, Bank of Boston, LISC, and the Massachusetts Port Authority.
"Corporate Buddies" provide two key elements to their local Main Street organizations as well as participation in the
city's program architect.
Funding: a $10,000 commitment annually over four years to their partner district.
Technical Support: assistance which can range from reviewing financial plans to development of company volunteer
projects and graphic design support.
