The Main Street program manager reported to the Economic Development Partnership Board on Oct. 8 that the program awarded three downtown reinvestment grants in fiscal 2024–25 totaling $127,000 and that downtown capital investment tied to those projects was $1.6 million.

The manager said the program now tracks grant leads through a pipeline and listed ten leads in initial conversation, 13 awaiting applications, four under review and 10 lead losses over the year (projects that did not move forward due to financing, zoning or building suitability). The manager reported downtown openings and closings for the year: 19 new businesses opened and 12 closed, with 153 jobs gained and 157 jobs lost.

Staff said they conducted approximately 37 business-retention and expansion visits since new tracking began and plan to increase retailer outreach to five businesses per week. Key business needs reported in visits included parking solutions, wayfinding, marketing and administrative support. Staff also said the downtown ambassador program is expected to finish by the end of the calendar year and that staff are tracking downtown vacancy listings and working with brokers on recruitment and property matches.

The Main Street manager invited board members to sign up for the Downtown Lowdown newsletter and said additional downtown training and engagement events (including a fire-suppression workshop and Halloween planning) were held earlier in the year.