GOSHEN MAIN STREET DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL CERTIFIED MAIN STREET
Torrington, WY – On behalf of Main Street businesses throughout Goshen County, Goshen Economic Development began the process of becoming a National Certified Main Street three years ago. The process included the addition of events such as 3rd Thursday’s and expansion of existing events such as Holiday activities. National Main Street Certification creates national exposure, provides additional grant funding opportunities, and results in a cohesive community.
Goshen Main Street Designated as a National Certified Main Street
Torrington, WY – On behalf of Main Street businesses throughout Goshen County, Goshen Economic Development began the process of becoming a National Certified Main Street three years ago. The process included the addition of events such as 3rd Thursday’s and expansion of existing events such as Holiday activities. National Main Street Certification creates national exposure, provides additional grant funding opportunities and results in a cohesive community.
The value of a Main Street program is already present in Goshen County. In every rural community there is a consistent struggle. That struggle is to add jobs, retain population, and to stop retail leakage. In Goshen County where small business is big business, Goshen Economic Development and local businesses created Goshen Main Street as a locally led, community driven effort to protect and enhance our rural communities. The goal was based on strengthening the economy, providing a better quality of life, and building on local assets. All of which lead to preservation of local businesses and community.
The Main Street program is structured by a four-point approach that embraces community-driven, common-sense ways to address issues facing traditional business districts. The Main Street approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on unique assets such as distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of place. The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation.
ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 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. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $79 billion in new public and private investment, generated 640,017 net new jobs, 143,613 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 284,936 buildings. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Goshen Economic Development is a non-profit organization created in 1987 to encourage business growth and build on local community assets. GED’s mission is to cultivate boundless opportunity for business and community. The organization encompasses all economic development, Chamber of Commerce, Travel and Tourism, and Main Street activities throughout Goshen County.