New Mexico MainStreet Program is a grassroots economic development program that assists communities in revitalizing their traditional commercial neighborhoods. A program of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, MainStreet works throughout New Mexico to help affiliated downtown organizations create an economically viable business environment while preserving local cultural and historic resources. The program mission is to “foster economic development in the state by supporting local MainStreet revitalization organizations and their work in downtowns and the adjacent neighborhoods. The Program provides resources, education, training and services that preserve and enhance the built environment, local historic culture and heritage and stimulate the economic vitality of each participating community.”
The Program provides resources, education, training and technical services that stimulate the economic vitality of each participating community while celebrating local heritage and culture. MainStreet is a consensus building program that fosters community pride and encourages the growth of small businesses, consequently enhancing local employment and income opportunities, tax revenues, property values and general quality of life.
New Mexico MainStreet works within the National Trust Main Street Center’s established Four-Point Approach® of Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Positioning while tailoring to meet local needs and opportunities. MainStreet has been the premier organization that brings life to New Mexico’s downtowns since 1985.
New Mexico MainStreet currently serves 23 affiliated MainStreet projects and 6 state-authorized Arts and Cultural Districts.
In the late-1970s the National Trust for Historic Preservation developed the Main Street Four Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization, a comprehensive strategy that encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation. In 1985, the New Mexico State Legislature funded the New Mexico MainStreet Program to assist local communities implement this strategy.
The New Mexico MainStreet Program was formed to “provide for the revitalization of central business districts in New Mexico communities based on the preservation and rehabilitation of existing structures of unique historical and architectural character and the development of progressive marketing and management techniques as an economic development strategy for local governments.” Article 60B NMSA 1978
Since 1985, New Mexico MainStreet has been helping local communities revitalize their downtown commercial districts using the Main Street Approach® with remarkable results. Thousands of jobs have been created and millions of dollars in private funds have been invested in New Mexico’s Main Streets since the program began. View New Mexico MainStreet’s reinvestment statistics here.
For more information, check out the New Mexico MainStreet website here.