Our Approach
The Main Street Four-Point Approach® is a community-driven, comprehensive strategy that encourages economic development through historic preservation in ways that are appropriate for today's marketplace.
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.
Eight Effective Principles
Comprehensive
No single focus can do the job. Downtown revitalization is a complex process requiring a simultaneous, all-encompassing strategic approach.
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 Main Street, as the heart of the community.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 of Fremont works because we follow through.
Our Mission
MainStreet of Fremont exists to improve the quality of life in Fremont by strengthening the historic downtown as the center of the community. The purpose of MainStreet of Fremont is to encourage, promote, and support downtown Fremont's economic vitality, as well as the image and appearance of downtown.