About Us

Mission

To improve the quality of life in Fremont by strengthening the Historic Downtown as the center of the Community.
Mainstreet Fremont capitalized on the idea that the downtown is the center of community life, and more than just a place of commerce. We believe that a revitalized downtown benefits the community because an active downtown is a symbol of community economic health, local quality of life, pride, and community history. The purpose of Mainstreet Fremont is to encourage, promote, and support downtown Fremont’s economic vitality, as well as the image and appearance of downtown.

In Fremont, Mainstreet just doesn’t include the “Main Street,” it encompasses the entire downtown district. Mainstreet Fremont is a resource to the entire community. We emphasize the infrastructure and the business located between 1st and 8th Street, and C to H Streets. The historic district is designated as Main and 6th Streets.

Mainstreet Fremont is founded on eight effective principles for success that are carried out through the Four Point Approach. Through the work of volunteer committees, the four point approach encourages economic development of business improvement, design, organization, and promotion. When working simultaneously and comprehensively, they help keep downtown thriving by addressing present as well as future strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges.

Eight Effective Principles

COMPREHENSIVE
No single focus can do the job. Downtown revitalization is a complex process requiring a simultaneous, all-encompassing strategic approach.

INCREMENTAL
Small projects and simple activities lead to a more sophisticated understanding of the revitalization process and help members of the community develop skills to tackle more complex problems and projects.

SELF-INITIATED HELP
Local leaders must educate residents and business owners alike of the rewards for their involvement, investment and commitment of time and money in Mainstreet Fremont, as the heart of the community.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Both public and private sectors have a vital interest in downtown. Each sector has a role and must understand that others are contributing time, money, and enterprise.

ASSET ENHANCEMENT
Main Street must capitalize on the unique qualities it already has – distinct buildings, neighborly shop owners, and a human scale that cannot be copied.

QUALITY
A high standard of quality must be set for every aspect of the commercial district, from window displays to marketing initiatives, from public improvements to storefront renovation.

PROACTIVE, POSITIVE CHANGE
Proactive attitudes and positive changes are slow but definite, and essential. To improve current economic conditions, revitalization program leaders must work to change public attitudes about the commercial district. Mainstreet Fremont requires a new way of thinking about downtown’s purpose and future.

IMPLEMENTATION ORIENTED
Make a difference TODAY. Main Street’s focus is to simultaneously plan for the future while creating a visible change and activity now. Mainstreet Fremont works because we follow through.

Four Point Approach

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING

Strengthening the existing economic base of downtown, while diversifying it. Economic restructuring activities include helping existing downtown businesses expand, recruiting new businesses to provide a balanced mix, converting unused space into productive, and sharpening the competitiveness of downtown businesses.

DESIGN

Contributes to improving the downtown’s image by challenging its physical appearance. Not just that of the buildings, but also of street lights, window displays, parking areas, sidewalks., promotional materials, and all other elements that convey a visual message and create a sense of place about what the downtown is, an inviting center of the community, and what it has to offer.

PROMOTION

Marketing the downtown’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, tourists, and others. Effective promotion creates a positive image of the special events and ongoing programs to build strong perceptions of the district.

ORGANIZATION

Concentrating on getting everyone in the community working toward the same goal: a vital, active, and inviting downtown. Organization means building consensus and cooperation between the groups that play a role in the downtown area. Many individuals and organizations have an important stake in the economic and cultural viability of the district. The four-point approach builds a framework for sensible, volunteer-driven programming and organizational structure that matches the community’s assets and potential.

Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 40 years. Today it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Main Street America is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Nebraska Main Street Network exists to help communities develop traditional commercial districts so that they are attractive to residents and business friendly for commercial investment and economic growth. We help communities work through the revitalization process, provide support as they develop solutions, build partnerships and plan for the future.

MainStreet of Fremont Board Members

Lainey Paquette | Executive Director MainStreet of Fremont
Sam Heineman, President | Dodge County Realty Group
Jasmine De Luna, Vice President | RVR Bank
Katy Jones, Treasurer | Midland University
Kim Schwarz, Secretary | First Community Bank
Jill Gossett | Methodist Fremont Health
Sarah Brandt | Bixby Financial Services
Kim Cuda | Abe Krasne Home Furnishings
Nichole Owsley | Arch Bishop Bergan
Nik Beninato | Don Peterson & Associates
Tom Coday | Lou's Sporting Goods
Liz Gibney | FNBO
Erika Martinez | Don Peterson & Associates
Bridget Sawyer | S2 Roll-Offs