The Main Street program is designed to improve all aspects of the downtown Owatonna, producing both tangible and intangible benefits. Improving economic management, strengthening public participation, and making downtown a fun place to visit are as critical to downtown's future as recruiting new businesses, rehabilitating buildings, and expanding parking. Building on downtown's inherent assets -- rich

architecture, personal service, and traditional values and most of all, a sense of place -- the Main Street approach has rekindled entrepreneurship, downtown cooperation and civic concern. It has earned national recognition as a practical strategy appropriately scaled to a community's local resources and conditions. And because it is a locally driven program, all initiative stems from local issues and concerns.

MainStreet Owatonna is based on the National Main Street Center's 4-Point Approach to downtown revitalization. The Main Street 4-Point Approach was developed by the National Main Street Center to save historic commercial architecture and the fabric of American communities' built environment, but has become a powerful economic development tool as well. It is a comprehensive strategy, tailored to local needs and opportunities, in four broad areas:

• Design
• Organization
• Promotion
• Economic Restructuring

Other activities the MainStreet Program oversees are:

• Downtown Cleanup
• Hanging Flower Basket Program
• State Theater Task Force

Helpful Downtown Owatonna Information

• MainStreet Downtown Design Guidelines
• Downtown Parking Map

• Historic Walking Tour Brochure

• 11@7 Concerts in the Park Schedule

The goal of the MainStreet Committee is to ensure the long term viability of downtown Owatonna through strengthened public and private activities and participation. MainStreet Advisory Committee volunteers oversee MainStreet activities including: Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion, Cork & Bottle Event, Downtown Cleanup, Hanging Flower Baskets, State Theatre Task Force, Block Head Program and other activities as needed.

If you'd like more information about this committee, click here to submit your request!