Madison Main Street Program news

The Madison Main Street Program

WELCOME New Board Member(s)

The Madison Main Street Program is pleased to WELCOME four new board members in 2012! They are Sandy Palmer, Julie Truax, Rhonda Sauley, and Gerry Michl. They join current board members Larry Newhouse, Sandy Schearli, Marni Todd, Lucy Dattilo, Jenny Eggenspiller, Gerry Reilly, Robert Ems and Wanda Gross. Officers are Robert Ems, President; Larry Newhouse V.P., Gerry Reilly, Treasurer and Sandy Schearli, Secretary. Part-time Program Director- Beth Black

What we do

The Madison Main Street Program is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Madison’s historic commercial district. We help to promote the fun of being downtown through the summer music concert series, Music in the Park, and other events we partner with the Madison Business and Professional Association. We advocate and believe in our downtown shopping district by offering a variety of promotional events such as Fourth Friday Art and Shop Hop. Explore what we have by linking to our Shop Link and viewing a few video clips. We develop and create ways to help retain and attract new businesses to town. We also offer historic preservation services and retain a library of resources on business, historic preservation and design.

Our history

Madison’s Main Street Program has a nationally significant history. In 1977 Madison was chosen, along with Galesburg, Illinois and Hot Springs, South Dakota, to serve as a pilot city for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Project. The Project was in response to the economic devastation plaguing so many American downtowns. The Project developed comprehensive redevelopment strategies that have help many cities revitalize their historic downtowns. Madison became an official Main Street program in 1994.

Nationally, Main Street’s economic impact has been tremendous. From 1980 to 2002, Main Street communities have seen a cumulative net reinvestment of $17 billion, with an average reinvestment of $9.5 million in each community. More than 57,000 net new businesses and 231,000 net new jobs have been created, with the average cost of a job created only $2,394. In fact, with each dollar spent on operating a local program generating an average of $40.35 in return to the community, Main Street has become the most cost efficient economic development program in the country.

For more information or to volunteer call us at 812-265-3270 (message phone)

For more information about the Madison Main Street Program, or to volunteer, please visit our website, www.madisonmainstreet.com, email us at madisonmainstreetprogram@gmail.com