Winnsboro Main Street board outlines 2025 work plan focusing on marketing, wayfinding and workforce

The Winnsboro Main Street Board met in a work session March 11 to review a condensed 2025 transformation strategy that focuses on increasing downtown foot traffic through marketing and wayfinding, strengthening business-to-business awareness, supporting workforce training and expanding historic-identity efforts.

The board discussed two core strategies: (1) business growth and economic development, with a near-term target to increase customer traffic and business visibility; and (2) community engagement and destination marketing, including events, a shared citywide calendar and a push to better document and promote historic assets. The meeting included budget reviews, partner lists and a plan to form committees and assign chairs to develop measures and tasks.

Why it matters: The Main Street program requires quarterly reporting to Main Street America and asks local boards to nominate one to three transformation strategies. Winnsboro’s board has a shortened timeline for 2025 (roughly seven months) and must match limited program funds to prioritized tasks while coordinating city staff, the Chamber, the Wood County EDC and local merchants.

Board members and staff highlighted specific measures and budget constraints. The draft plan proposes a 15% target increase in customer traffic for downtown (board…