Since its inception, Illinois Main Street (IMS) has been extraordinarily effective at working with communities across the state to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through place-based economic development. IMS programs have collectively secured nearly $1.2 billion in public and private reinvestment, added over 11,000 jobs, created over 2,400 new businesses, and rehabilitated 1220 buildings since 1992. Now in its 30th year, Illinois Main Street is entering a new phase of dynamic growth powered by collaboration and tenacious leadership.

“As a former executive director for a local Main Street district, I am thankful to be in the position to help grow the Illinois Main Street coordinating program,” reflects Joi Cuartero Austin, Senior Program Officer and Director of Illinois Main Street at Main Street America. “It’s a privilege to work alongside our Illinois Main Street programs and statewide partners to help foster vibrant communities and build homegrown wealth. These are inspiring times for Illinois Main Street, and I know the best is yet to come.”

In this Program Spotlight, we take a closer look at the exciting developments happening in Illinois that offer bright futures for communities and their stakeholders, as well as inspiration for our network of Main Street leaders, advocates, and changemakers.

Welcoming New Communities Brings Exciting Opportunities

In July 2022, Illinois Main Street welcomed three dynamic organizations to their network of programs dedicated to creating meaningful improvements to their communities on a hyperlocal, county, or regional level. The Greater Freeport Partnership (Freeport, IL) and Action Brown County representing Mt. Sterling (Brown County, IL) joined at the Affiliate level, while Marshall Main Street (Marshall, IL) joined at the Aspiring level.

The Greater Freeport Partnership serves in the capacity of economic development, business service, and tourism for Freeport and Stephenson County. They bring partners and individuals together to promote and grow the region.

Action Brown County is a non-profit organization located in Mt. Sterling that works to promote the community and homegrown economic development throughout the county, through shop local campaigns, a community event calendar, and the Brown County Business Start-Up Competition.

Marshall Main Street works to manage and rebuild their historic downtown as a retail and service-oriented commercial district, through fun and exciting promotions, special events, and ongoing advertising campaigns.

The addition of these organizations to the Illinois Main Street network has created opportunities for conversations with more communities, for both membership and providing technical services to those outside of the network.

Leveraging Main Street’s Existing Hub-and-Spoke Model for the Small Business Community Navigator Program

In July 2021, the Illinois Main Street Program was selected as a Hub Organization for the Illinois Small Business Community Navigator Program. Through the program, 20 IMS members received grants to operate as “spokes” to the Illinois Main Street Program “hub.” As local experts and trusted leaders in their communities, each program was perfectly positioned to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small businesses, with a particular focus on engaging those experiencing barriers to learning about and accessing economic recovery funds. One of the program’s first campaigns promoted the state’s Back 2 Business recovery grant initiative, which devoted $250 million (leveraged from the American Rescue Plan Act) for businesses that experienced losses or increased operating costs due to COVID-19.

Each spoke organization utilized their Navigator grant dollars to tailor their programming to meet the needs of their business communities. Downtown Crystal Lake, for example, hosted seminars and workshops designed to equip district businesses with growing their operations through digital marketing, media outreach, outdoor advertising, and collaborative business-to-business relationships. The response from Downtown Crystal Lake businesses was very strong and positive, with all participants receiving increased access to resources, exposure, and opportunities to connect, exchange knowledge, and build relationships. Downtown Crystal Lake also leveraged grant funding increase additional visitor traffic to the Main Street district through a multi-channel marketing campaign for their weekly farmers’ market, annual Garden Party event, and perennial shop local activities, which not only highlighted local businesses, but provided avenues for entrepreneurial incubation, development, and growth.

The program also created opportunities for IMS to partner more deeply with the Chicago Main Street initiative, which is dedicated to implementing the Main Street Approach methodology in seven neighborhood commercial districts. Six Chicago Main Street programs participated as spokes, delivering crucial technical assistance to area businesses and yielding impressive results. The 51st Street Business Association provided application support to more than 135 businesses, with at least 12 grant applications totaling $335,000 receiving approval. In the West Humboldt Park commercial corridor, the West Humboldt Park Development Council (WHP) utilized a multi-faceted marketing strategy to promote the Back 2 Business recovery grant program. A placement in a neighborhood newspaper led the business owner of a catering and culinary enrichment program devastated by the pandemic to reach out. WHP staff provided encouragement and grant writing assistance, resulting in the business receiving a substantial grant that will aid in restoring and sustaining the enterprise.

Through their established network of Main Street communities, each with years of experience developing relationships with partners and local businesses, as well as intimate knowledge of the unique needs of their communities, the Illinois Main Street “hub” is succeeding in providing resources to businesses and demonstrating the power of the Main Street Approach.

Reviving and Strengthening State-Level Partnerships to Build Capacity

Illinois Main Street was created as an initiative in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in 1993. The program was administered by this office and received design services from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency until 2015, when all state financial support was eliminated due to budget cuts and shifts in funding priorities. This change greatly impacted Illinois communities and motivated Main Street leaders to reimagine the program’s structure, operations, and partnerships. In 2018, with support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Main Street America re-launched IMS.

Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton’s special interest in community development—during her campaign and while in office—has revived the state’s commitment to supporting local economic development and downtown revitalization. In 2019, Lieutenant Governor Stratton met with representatives from Illinois Main Street and Chicago Main Street. "My office has focused on revitalizing and expanding Illinois Main Street so that communities across the state can access economic development and thrive as the rich, diverse regions that make Illinois so great," stated Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton.

Through subsequent listening sessions and a facilitated workshop made possible by leadership from Lieutenant Governor Stratton’s office, Illinois Main Street, and others, a new proposal to further partnership between the entities was developed. This revived collaboration outlined partnership priorities, funding, and outcomes. In July 2022, the one-year proposal was approved. In addition to reestablishing the relationship between Illinois Main Street and the state of Illinois, the agreement also allocates funding to ensure that IMS can build organizational capacity, grow the network, and maintain an inclusive framework that benefits member communities.

As work to implement the partnership begins this summer—with top priorities that include hiring a program manager, onboarding 3-4 more communities, building out resources, toolkits, and educational services (like the annual Illinois Main Street conference October 18-20, 2022), and bolstering the position and role of IMS as a leader in the community revitalization space—IMS’ involvement in another state-led initiative is injecting much needed investment into local programs.

On August 15, Illinois Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced $215 million in grants to 50 commercial corridor and main street organizations throughout the state via the Rebuild Illinois Downtown and Main Streets Capital program. Grants will support projects designed to support commercial hubs, beautify and modernize downtowns, address critical infrastructure needs, and improve the quality of life for residents.

Four IMS communities were included in this unprecedented revitalization initiative that leverages state, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and matching funds:

AltonWorks, a firm dedicated to adaptive reuse projects in downtown Alton, will restore the historic Wedge and Elgen buildings into the Wedge Innovation Center, a co-working and small business incubator that will provide space, support, and possibly start-up capital for entrepreneurs. This $3 million investment in the project also includes plans for creating ground floor commercial retail and restaurant spaces and prioritizing the recruitment of social impact innovation members at the Center.

The City of Carbondale will use their $2.05 million grant award to build the Downtown Entertainment & Events Plaza at the Washington Street Venue. The plaza will feature a permanent stage with enhanced infrastructure for performers and attendees. This new venue will be a boon for Carbondale Main Street’s efforts to boost economic activity at local businesses by attracting visitors through performing arts, live entertainment, and cultural activities.

With a $2.9 million boost, Jacksonville’s Downtown Turnaround Extension Project will make tremendous progress in accessibility to the downtown's main square, as well as reconstruction of South Main Street. This final phase of the project, which came to fruition after nearly two decades of advocacy efforts by Jacksonville Main Street, includes vitally important civic infrastructure upgrades and streetscape improvements matching those in the downtown area.

In downtown Quincy, the city and local Main Street program will utilize $2.4 million to support the 6th Street Corridor Reconstruction Project. Improvements include major upgrades to lighting, sidewalks, trees, and benches. Upon completion, the downtown corridor will become a unique third-space within the district, and will be more accessible to visitors for both day-to-day visits and special events. “This will be a game changer to our downtown district! It's exciting to see how a vision of a more accessible and revitalized downtown comes to fruition for Quincy,” said Emily Lombardi, Director of Economic Development at The District Quincy. “We've made big plans for the 6th Street Promenade with the hope of bringing a beautiful attraction to our community. This investment in our downtown is a long-awaited relief to the infrastructural needs required to boost local business and create an accessible, workable downtown area."

The future of Illinois Main Street and its members is bright. Learn more and follow the progress of Illinois Main Street at www.ilmainstreet.org.