East End Main Street Showcased at National Conference
Hodgson earns certification

This week Main Street managers and interested parties in community and economic development met in Seattle Washington and the Annual Main Street National Conference.
From West Virginia, Pat Brown, Executive Director of the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority (CURA), Mary Alice Hodgson, East End Main Street Program Manager, Matthew Ballard, President/CEO of the Charleston Area Alliance, Jennifer Jordan of the West Side Main Street Program, Libby Ballard of Charleston City Planning Office, Bill Woodrum of West Virginia State University, St. Albans Renaissance Director Sally Blessing, and many others attended the conference to attend educacations on mains street, economic and community development.

The most exciting development is that Mary Alice Hodgson, became a certified Main Street Manager. This is a honor bestowed upon those in main street who complete educational courses and then pass a test measuring outcomes from the course work. To the best of our knowledge, Mary Alice is only one of two current practicing Certified Main Street Managers in West Virginia.

Bill, Jennifer, Matt and Mary Alice presented at the conference on the topic of embedded Main Street programs. The concept of an “embedded” Main Street program is one that seems to be catching-on around the country.

The East End Main Street of Charleston West Virginia is embedded in the Charleston Area Alliance. The Charleston Area Alliance is a multi-faceted economic, business, and community development organization as well as the largest regional Chamber of Commerce in West Virginia.

What does this mean for the Main Street Program of the East End?
Administrative Support; whereas most Main Street programs have a staff of one to two people.

Financial Support; the Alliance funds the Main Street Program

A team; to be part of an organization of experts to assist and consult on projects in community development, economic development, real estate and public policy issues.

These benefits have allowed the East End Main Street to “get up and running” more quickly than the average main street program might. It allowed the East End to delve into projects more quickly rather than focusing on the bureaucracy of getting things started.

Needless to say this topic was very popular at the conference. The presenters and in particular Mary Alice were swamped after the talk with question after question of those wanting to know how to duplicate our successes.

What does this all mean? It means that once again the Alliance and its mission are one that demonstrates the fruits of metro-services. It demonstrates that the vision of those who choose and who made the Alliance happen, were correct. It demonstrates that as the Alliance grow, its quality and quantity of success was increase to build a more vibrant community and prosperous economy.

You can find out more about Main Street at www.mainstreet.org