As published in the Murfreesboro Post, Mike West, Managing Editor, May 16, 2007
The city of Murfreesboro will receive a $10,000 Main Street Innovation Grant to assist with the second phase of the Heritage Center, a partnership with the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area and Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation.
“This grant allows communities to get creative and pursue a forward-thinking approach to community development,” Gov. Phil Bredesen said. “I applaud the leaders of Murfreesboro for taking advantage of the Main Street Innovation Grant to improve its downtown commercial district.”
The Main Street Innovation Grant, which requires communities to match 20 percent, supports the development of new, innovative projects, programs, activities and technology that exhibit best practices in downtown revitalization.
The Murfreesboro grant will fund the completion of the Main Street Office and exhibit space and exhibit planning and fabrication within the Heritage center.
“This funding support will be a great benefit to the city and provide much needed improvements to preserve Murfreesboro’s historic downtown,” said state Rep. Kent Coleman.
“We are very grateful that this grant has been approved. A lot of planning has gone into this project and these improvements will help revitalize downtown Murfreesboro,” said Rep. John Hood.
“This grant will help improve the community’s downtown commercial district,” state Sen. Jim Tracy said. “I want to commend city leaders for recognizing the importance of this project and making the necessary plans to secure funding.”
“I am pleased to award these Main Street Communities with funding to improve their historic downtown districts,” said ECD Commissioner Matthew Kisber. “Making an investment in these communities helps our state maintain a positive business climate, creating an environment where companies can grow and succeed, and providing more Tennesseans with higher-paying, better-skilled jobs.”?
The Main Street program is a statewide program that provides communities with technical assistance and guidance in developing long-term strategies that promote economic development, historic preservation and growth in traditional commercial districts across Tennessee.
The program requires certified Tennessee Main Street communities to meet National Accreditation standards which include broad-based community support for the program, a comprehensive work plan, a sufficient operating budget and adequate staff and volunteer support.
The Main Street four-point approach to downtown revitalization is a comprehensive, incremental, self-help economic strategy that focuses on developing public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation, while maintaining the historic character of their downtown district.
Tennessee Main Street is a coordinating program of the National Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation