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Main Street board promotes trolley tours, Winter Texan outreach and upcoming job fair
Summary
Main Street leaders reported outreach at the Winter Texan Expo, new collaborative trolley tours with Roma, a planned job fair for Feb. 27 and several downtown events; the Main Street trolley requires ongoing maintenance and does not break even on operating costs, staff said.
Main Street staff and advisory board members told the Rio Grande City Economic Development Corporation that they are expanding heritage-tourism outreach and planning events to bring visitors and shoppers downtown.
Main Street Coordinator Anita Reyna and vice president Marcus Canales reported they attended the Winter Texan Expo to promote historic trolley and combined tours with the city of Roma. Staff said the tours will include a joint Roma-Rio Grande City itinerary on select dates; advance bookings were reported and the cost structure will reflect the longer route.
The Main Street report listed several upcoming events and programs: a job and employer expo on Feb. 27 at STC with more than 30 employers expected; Founders Day planned for Feb. 8 with the public library; a downtown Main Street Market Day tentatively set for March 15; and ribbon cuttings (McDonald—s, IHOP on Jan. 30, Nisi Auto Sales on Jan. 31) and other grand openings. Staff noted the trolley requires maintenance and that operating the trolley and paying a tour guide is not revenue-generating at scale but is valued as a promotional service for tourism.
Main Street staff also said they are pursuing a downtown revitalization contract (administration contract with Brent Works to prepare bidding documents and engineering) and will work on relocating a downtown monument to improve pedestrian circulation on Bridal Avenue. Staff encouraged board members and commissioners to attend outreach events when possible and said they will follow up with more detailed Main Street reports.
Ending: Main Street staff will provide fuller quarterly reports to the EDC and coordinate with the city and partner agencies on joint tours and upcoming events.
