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Colorado Main Street Program
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Current Colorado Main Street Communities Benefits of Being a Colorado Main Street Community Word on the Street March 2012 NEW! Overview
The Colorado Main Street® Program is a program to revitalize traditional downtown districts within the context of historic preservation. The program uses an approach that advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of central business districts based on their traditional assets of unique architecture, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.
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The Colorado Main Street® Program provides technical assistance and services in the four areas of the Main Street Approach® (economic restructuring, design, organization, and promotion) to competitively selected communities that are working in historically relevant business district settings and that meet certain threshold criteria. Main Street's Eight Guiding Principles provide a comprehensive approach to district and downtown revitalization.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) manages the Colorado Main Street® Program, which is funded by a grant from the State Historical Fund. The Department of Local Affairs requires all candidates to submit a Letter of Intent to apply. The DOLA Main Street Advisory Board will review all letters of intent and request a full application from those communties who are strong candidates for the program. Contact Marc Cittone, Main Street Specialist, for more information.
What is the Main Street® Program?
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Main Street's Eight Guiding Principles |
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Colorado Main Street Communities
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Candidate Communities
| Lyons (since 2010) | 303.823.5215 |
| Rifle (since 2009) | 970.625.6265 |
| Montrose (since 2012) | 970.901.9667 |
| Fruita (since 2012) | 970.858.0786 |
| Silver Cliff and Westcliffe (since 2012) | 719.783.2282 |
| Victor (since 2012) | 719.648.0033 |
Program Background
National Main Street History
Concerned about continuing threats to Main Streets' commerical architecture and aware of the need to stimulate economic activity in small-city downtowns, the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched a community demonstration project (1977-1980) that resulted in the creation of the Main Street Four Point ApproachTM and establishment of the National Main Street Center in Wahington, D.C.
Nationally, the Main Street Program has proven to be incredibly successful, making it one of the most powerful economic development tools in the nation. Today, the Main Street approach has been implemented in 44 states and more than 1,600 communities.
Colorado Main Street History
Colorado was elected by the National Main Street Center for a state pilot Main Street project in 1980-1983. Delta, Durango, Grand Junction, Manitou Springs, and Sterling were Colorado's Main Street communities in the initial program. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs administered this three-year pilot program. Although the Main Street approach to downtown revitalization proved very successful in Colorado, the state discontinued the program after completing the three-year pilot project. Between 2000 and 2010, Downtown Colorado Inc. administered the Colorado Main Street program with a grant from the State Historical Fund of History Colorado.
Because of the emphasis on historic preservation and the impact the program has had in revitalizing Colorado's downtowns, the State Historical Fund continues to generously support the Colorado Main Street Program. In 2011, the administration of the program reverted back to the Department of Local Affairs with a grant from the State Historical Fund. Training and educational services are being provided to Main Street Communities in part by Downtown Colorado Inc.
Staff Contacts
Stephanie Troller, Main Street Coordinator
303.866.2369
Marc Cittone, Main Street Specialist
303.866.6421
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State of Colorado 