Chicago, Illinois
Palmer House Hotel
March 1st -- 4th 2009
Exlusive Sponsorship Signup Form.doc (1 page .doc)
Opening Reception Sign-up.doc (1 page .doc)
What does the conference offer you?
People from small and rural towns, suburban communities, large and midsized cities, and urban neighborhood business districts can all benefit from ideas, solutions, issue discussion, and networking opportunities that only we offer.
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Four full days of educational sessions and networking opportunities;
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Day-long Main Street Four-Point Approach™ training;
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Tours to learn from revitalization successes in our host city and surrounding Main Street Districts;
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Expo Hall filled with product and service providers specializing in commercial district revitalization; and
Opportunities to network with colleagues who are experiencing similar challenges in their communities.
About the Conference
Illinois Main Street is excited to be hosting the 2009 National Main Streets Conference in Chicago, March 1-4, 2009. We anticipate welcoming over 2000 economic development, planning, preservation and revitalization professionals from across the country. With a theme of “Becoming Main Street 2.0”, the 2009 conference focuses on how technology can be applied to community revitalization efforts. What are the tech tools Main Street programs need to succeed in the 21st century? The 2009 conference will focus on the use of technology to implement all four points of the Main Street approach.
09MainStreets (2).pdf (Session info)
About the National Program
In the 1970s, the National Trust developed its pioneering Main Street approach to commercial district revitalization, an innovative methodology that combines historic preservation with economic development to restore prosperity and vitality to downtowns and neighborhood business districts. Today, the message has spread, as the Center advocates a comprehensive approach that rural and urban communities alike can use to revitalize their traditional commercial areas through historic preservation and grassroots-based economic development. It has created a network of more than 40 statewide, citywide, and countywide Main Street programs with more than 1,200 active Main Street programs nationally.
What is Illinois Main Street About?
Illinois Main Street is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The program is administered by the Lt. Governor's Office and promotes historic preservation and economic development of the state's traditional business districts. Illinois Main Street provides training and technical assistance to participating communities. Illinois Main Street helps communities define their own vision and works with them to make that vision a reality. Local staff, businesses and volunteers provide grassroots leadership, raise money and spearhead revitalization activities.
Presently, Illinois has 69 active Main Street communities, growing from 9 when the program began in 1993. Since it's inception, designated communities have reported net gains of more than 1,500 new downtown businesses, and created 3,200 full-time jobs and 2,400 part-time jobs. Main Streets have spurred more than $123 million in public improvements and more than $411 million in private reinvestments in their downtowns.
The Main Street Four Point Approach Is...
- Organization- Developing and sustaining an effective downtown management organization.
- Design - Improving the appearance of the downtown buildings and streetscape through historic preservation.
- Promotion - Marketing the district's unique assets to bring people downtown.
- Economic Restructuring - Improving the downtown's economic base by assisting and recruiting businesses and finding new uses for underused space.
We are seeking business partners and sponsors to assist in making this an exceptional conference. For information on how to sponsor the 2009 National Main Streets Conference please view the attachments above.
Illinois Main Street is proud to co-host the 2009 National Main Street Conference in our "Sweet Home Chicago". Plan to come early and stay late to sample the sites, sounds and sweets of this exciting city and state. As you travel, follow Route 66, Dixie Highway or National Road to many Main Street communities. Experience the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and a host of other historic venues during the Bicentennial of Lincoln's birth. Whether it's by train, plane or automobile, come celebrate with us March 1st - 4th, 2009!
Sponsorship Opportunities & Conference Facts
Sponsorship Signup Form
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