The Main Street Program advocates restoration of the historic character of downtown while pursuing traditional development strategies—marketing and promotion, business recruitment and retention, real estate information, market analysis and public improvements. Historic

Downtown Sidney utilizes the comprehensive and incremental Four Point Approach™ of the Main Street Program to bring renewed energy and lead an organized effort to historic preservation and downtown vitality. Main Street is not only an economic asset, but also the community’s crossroad—a place that evokes strong emotions and helps define the community’s identity.  The four points of Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring are the keys to the success of the Main Street approach. Since the program is volunteer-driven, it is important to build consensus and cooperation among the stakeholders. 

Four Point Approach

Economic Restructuring means strengthening the existing economic base of the downtown while diversifying it.  Activities include helping existing downtown businesses expand, recruit new business to provide a balanced mix of businesses, converting unused space into productive property and sharpening the competitiveness of downtown businesses.

This committee meets

Design contributes to improving the downtown’s image by enhancing its physical appearance—not just that of buildings, but also of street lights, window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, promotional materials and all other elements that convey a visual message and creates a sense of place of downtown, an inviting center of the community and what it has to offer.

Promotion involves marketing the downtown’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses, tourists and others.  Effective promotion creates a positive image of the special events and ongoing programs to build strong perceptions of the downtown.

Organization concentrates on getting everyone in the community working together towards the same goals: a vital, active inviting downtown.  Organization means building consensus and cooperation between the groups that play a role in the downtown.  Many individuals and organizations have an important stake in the economic and cultural viability of the downtown district.  The Four-Point Approach builds a framework for sensible volunteer-driven programming and organizational structure that matches the community’s assets and potential.