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House passes Main Street pilot bill to help small‑town downtown revitalization
Summary
House Bill 36 (Main Street Program Act) passed the House 60‑2. The bill establishes a Main Street pilot in the Department of Community and Economic Development to offer technical assistance and consultant support to small towns (committee amendment capped initial communities and emphasized historic main streets).
The Utah House passed House Bill 36, the Main Street Program Act, which would create a pilot program modeled on the National Main Street Center to assist small downtowns with revitalization.
Sponsor Representative Birmingham said the program provides technical assistance, consulting and training to help communities stabilize and revive historic business districts. The committee adopted pink‑sheet language to emphasize a rural focus and to limit initial participants to communities under a population cap for the pilot years; the bill provides authority to contract with the National Main Street Center.
Supporters cited successful examples from other states (including results in Georgia, Colorado and Arizona) and argued the program helps small towns attract business, rehabilitate buildings and create jobs. Questions from the floor asked how historic significance would be determined and who would set standards; the sponsor said advisory boards and program criteria would be used and that the committee amendments emphasized the small‑town focus. A motion to amend the advisory board composition failed on a close vote. The House then voted to pass HB36, 60‑2, and the bill was transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
The department and advisory board will determine pilot community selection and implementation details as the program moves through the legislative process and (if funded) into implementation.
