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Casa Grande Main Street outlines events, budget and downtown retail incubator
Summary
Main Street executive director Holly Nash reviewed the nonprofit’s recent events, partnerships and finances, and described a planned retail incubator at 108 W. Second St. that Main Street plans to fund and operate.
Holly Nash, executive director of Casa Grande Main Street, told the council during a study session that Main Street is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes economic vitality and historic preservation in the downtown district.
Nash summarized projects and events Main Street organizes and maintains, saying the group runs the Neon Sign Park murals, the “Doors of the Past” installations at Third and Florence streets, the annual street fair and the Downtown Halloween Stroll. “We do a lot,” Nash said, adding that Main Street operates with a single full-time director and one part‑time employee who works 10 hours a week.
The organization reported roughly $165,000 in revenue and about $145,000 in expenditures for 2024, Nash said. She said Main Street rolled over about $12,000 for a Dawn Market sign and around $9,200 for project maintenance; she noted that project maintenance needs are between $11,000 and $16,000 and that the $9,200 does not fully cover expected expenses.
Nash gave attendance, staffing and cost details for key events. She said the annual street fair takes more than 450 hours to plan, hosted 248 registered vehicles and 115 vendor booths in the most recent year, and drew “about 30,000 to 40,000” attendees over two days. She said the street fair costs about $28,000 to $35,000 to stage annually. The Downtown Halloween Stroll, started in 2020 as a trick‑or‑treat trail, now draws an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 attendees, including 3,000 to 4,000 children, Nash said.
Nash described partnerships that help fund events: the City of Casa Grande Community Services and Arts and Culture Commission, LFI, the Chamber of Commerce/DMO, Explore Pinal County and local nonprofits such as Casa Grande Rotary Club and Casa Collective. She said Main Street’s in‑kind and direct contribution to some events is modest — about $3,200 for one annual festival — but that planning hours and other staff time are substantial.
Nash announced a retail incubator the organization will operate at Space 108, 108 W. Second St., to provide short‑term retail space and training for small businesses. She said startup costs for the first year are about $45,000; Main Street plans to fund roughly $35,000 from its investment account and expects about $10,000 in vendor fees during the year. She described the program as staffed and operated by Main Street, which will pay utilities, insurance and transaction taxes for participating vendors and help them with licensing, point‑of‑sale and marketing.
On outreach and advertising, Nash said Main Street spent roughly $10,000 on advertising in one year (not including event advertising), with projected advertising spend near $12,000 for the current year. She noted statewide publicity through two segments on a Phoenix lifestyle program.
Councilmembers praised the downtown events and thanked Main Street for volunteer work and partnership. Councilmembers asked questions about staffing for Space 108 and whether the organization will hire a full‑time employee to run the incubator; Nash said staffing costs will rise and that the fiscal year 2025–26 budget will reflect higher personnel costs.
Nash closed by reiterating that Main Street’s capacity is limited by staffing and funding and that additional funds or staff would allow the group to hire an event coordinator and expand programming.
