www.state.il.us/HPA/ps/mainstreet.htm
In communities across the United States, civic leaders are working to bring life back to Main Street. Whether it’s the major downtown corridor in a small town or the commercial center of a larger city, Main Street is being rediscovered. As they work to reinforce and rekindle the economic vitality and values that Main Street stands for, communities are turning to the comprehensive Main Street Approach to revitalization. In Illinois, the assistance comes from Illinois Main Street, a program administered in the Office of Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn. Illinois Main Street helps communities: Build an effective volunteer-driven downtown management organization guided by professional staff and broadly supported by the public and private sectors. Enhance the downtown’s design and appearance through historic preservation.

• Create a unified, quality image and develop promotional strategies to bring people downtown
• Retain and strengthen existing downtown businesses
• Recruit appropriate new businesses
• Develop economic restructuring strategies to sustain the vitality of downtown