The city of Mexico’s economic development team along with some of the city’s business leaders met last week in the first step of creating a new not-for-profit organization that will focus …
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The city of Mexico’s economic development team along with some of the city’s business leaders met last week in the first step of creating a new not-for-profit organization that will focus on the development of downtown.
The organization helping the city facilitate the program is called Mainstreet and has been in operation for decades helping smaller towns revitalize their downtowns. Currently there are 55 programs across the state and four new ones in 2024 including Mexico.
Ben White, a senior program specialist with Missouri Mainstreet, led the Zoom meeting last Wednesday, Jan. 3, and has been with the program in Missouri for 10 years previously serving in Chillicothe with that program. He’s been in his current role the past four years.
White said Mainstreet has a four-point approach that will focus on organization, business retention, new businesses needed and the promotion of the downtown through events that can help showcase the city.
“It’s not only just events but really portraying downtown as a great place to shop, to dine, to hang out and bring your family,” White said.
White said Mainstreet’s approach is proven and has been working in more than 2,000 communities across 45 states.
“Really this shows if you work this Main Street Approach in earnest you will see the results of a successful downtown,” White said. “It’s really been proven to work.”
The new 501c3 group will have a name and a board of directors that will essentially replace the Village Square Association. Members of that board will be on the new entity’s board but city leaders also want to expand the brain cloud beyond just the Square. Mexico Economic Development Director Amy O’Brien said folks outside of the Square will also have a seat at the table.
“We need to include more people than just the downtown business owners,” O’Brien said. “Our downtown is vital to the entire community so we want to have a broad representation.”
To get the program kicked off Missouri Mainstreet will hold a town-hall style meeting in Mexico where the public will be invited. White said the goal will be to get at least 75-80 people from the community to attend. White said the program will need volunteers and a town-hall meeting is a good place to do recruiting.
“You’re going to get feedback from different participants and you’re going to learn different things,” White said.
White said Missouri Main Street holds several functions throughout the year and there is an attendance requirement. However, White also said those functions if attended can help tremendously with the process.
“You can talk to Mainstreet organizations that have been doing this for 30-plus years and learn what has worked and what hasn’t,” White said. “Mainstreeters love to share and they will be more than willing to share with you.”
No hard date for a town hall was established but it’s expected to take place sometime in April.
