Main Street program moves ahead

By Sun Advocate

Efforts to promote, revitalize and encourage business growth in downtown Price City have gained the support and resources of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development with the implementation of a Main Street Program.
In August, the Price City Council submitted an application to become a member of the Utah Main Street Program, which was approved and accepted this month. In doing so, Price City, as well Carbon County, partnered to match $10,000 in funding from the state each year for the next three years.
According to the Governor’s Office, the Main Street Program is designed to work with communities throughout Utah to restore the physical and economic vitality of their historic business districts with the understanding that a healthy, vibrant community builds its future on its past.
As part of the program, the local Price City business community will have guidance from Utah professionals who specialize in areas specific to the revitalization of downtown business districts. Their specialties include the following.
•Architectural consulting, building rehabilitation and historic preservation;
•Master plan development, public improvements and streetscape design;
•Retail sales analysis, survey design, implementation and analysis, and business growth planning;
•Business development planning and organization;
•Marketing planning, graphic design and creative design.
Projects are already in motion under the supervision of the recently elected Main Street Board, a group of local business persons seeking ways to enhance their community through an active and vibrant downtown.Over the long-term, the group will continue to oversee the implementation of promotional, organizational, design and business growth activities with the help of Main Street Coordinator, Melanie Steele. Activities of the Downtown Alive Committee will continue and will receive assistance from the program.
“This process, the Main Street Approach, isn’t a quick fix,” pointed out the Governor’s Office. “It builds sustainable change on incremental steps. But communities that establish and maintain a focus on downtown revitalization can achieve greater economic stability, rehabilitation and re-use of important historic commercial and public buildings, reduced vacancy, a restoration of downtown as the center of commercial, civic and cultural activities, an enhanced sense of community identity and a more effective use of community resources.”
Last Tuesday, the Price Main Street Program was introduced to business and community members at an open house at Price City Hall. After a presentation from the Utah Main Street Program, attendees broke into workshops focused on design, promotion and business growth.
Meetings of the Main Street Board are scheduled to take place on the first Wednesday of every month at noon in room 207 of Price City Hall and are open to anyone who wishes to attend and share comments and ideas.
There are currently 11 other Utah cities participating in the Main Street Program, including: American Fork, Heber City, Logan, Mt. Pleasant, Panguitch, Payson, Provo, Richfield, Roosevelt, Springville and Tooele. For more information on the Price City Main Street Program, contact Melanie Steele at Melanie@priceutah.net or at 820-1290.