TN Downtown Program launches in Brownsville

Sun, July 24, 2011 8:39:42 PM

Brownsville’s Tennessee Downtowns Steering Committee met with Tennessee Main Street Program Director Kimberly Nyberg, National Trust Main Street Center Officer Kathy LaPlante and Bridgett Massengill, Massengill Consulting, July 19, to do an initial site assessment and officially launch the Tennessee Downtowns program in Brownsville . Pictured (from left) are Hayden Hooper, Pat Cummins, Nyberg, Pat Bailey, John Ashworth, Sonia Outlaw-Clark, Sharon Hayes, Andrea Barbour, Albert Campbell, LaPlante, Mayor Jo Matherne and Massengill.

 Tennessee Main Street Program Director, National Trust Main Street Officer Conduct On-Site Assessment

Tennessee Main Street Program Director Kimberly Nyberg, National Trust Main Street Center Officer Kathy LaPlante and Bridgett Massengill, Massengill Consulting, conducted an initial assessment visit in Brownsville July 19, to launch the Tennessee Downtowns program. Brownsville is one of 12 communities selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns, a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts.

“The National Trust Main Street Center applauds Brownsville for embracing the revitalization of its downtown commercial district, and we look forward to hearing many success stories here and across the state as a result of Tennessee Downtowns,” said LaPlante.

Tennessee Downtowns is a tiered program affiliated with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Tennessee Main Street Program. Communities selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns are home to downtown commercial districts established at least 50 years ago and have demonstrated their readiness to organize efforts for downtown revitalization based on the successful “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalizationtm.”

“Tennessee Downtowns is a unique opportunity for Brownsville to take the initial steps toward revitalizing its downtown business district,” said Nyberg. “I would like to congratulate Brownsville again on being selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns and look forward to working with you in the coming months.”

Main Street revitalization is a comprehensive, incremental, self-help economic strategy that also focuses on developing public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation, while maintaining the historic character of the district. For information about the Main Street Program and the Main Street Four Point Approach, visithttp://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/about-main-street/.

Tennessee ’s Main Street program provides communities with technical assistance and guidance in developing long-term strategies that promote economic growth and development. The program provides information and assistance in forging public networking and training opportunities for downtown commercial districts.

For more information about Tennessee Downtowns, visit www.tennesseemainstreet.org.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tn.gov/ecd.