Organization Services
A strong organizational foundation is key for a sustainable Main Street revitalization effort....regardless of the organizational type.
- The National Main Street Center
Is your community on deck to launch a Main Street program? Do you have the essentials in place, but need a plan to move forward? Perhaps your program is seeking Main Street certification or re-certification? Is your program is ready to go from good to great and go after the National Main Street's prestigious Great American Main Street award? Georgia Downtowns will work with you to organize your program or project and take it to the next level of success.
Examples of Organization Services We Offer
Community Visioning
According to the National and Georgia Main Street programs, public input is critical to the strategic planning process for downtown economic development and the new Main Street approach. We can assist you with this important work by planning and facilitating town hall meetings, collecting survey data, holding focus groups, or through the employment of a combination of all three approaches.
Downtown Strategic Work Plan
It's important to plan the work and work the plan. Creating a dynamic and measurable work plan for your downtown is an essential path to prosperity. A solid strategic work plan will identify issues, set priorities, lead to community buy-in, build partnerships, foster commitment, and ensure follow through. Georgia Downtowns will partner with your staff and community to deliver a work plan specifically meeting your needs and vision.
Main Street Launch
Start your Main Street program now. Georgia Downtowns will work with you to set up "shop" and build a model that best fits your downtown. We will put together all of the required essentials, including mission and vision statements, by-laws, budget, annual work plan, and service agreements for the City Council – Main Street relationship. Additionally, we can review or craft your job descriptions and build tools for evaluations, board members' oath of office, confidentiality and conflict of interest statements, and board service agreements.
Great American Main Street Award
Go for it! This award application has specific requirements and guidelines that must be met to be competitive. Using our own experience, we will advise on the application process for the Great American Main Street Award. Georgia Downtowns will conduct a comparative inventory of your program and your economic impact statistics and assist you with the identification of priority issues leading up to your award application. Learn how to effectively tell your story, quantify your case, and be more competitive while seeking this prestigious national award.
Funding Presentations
Do you need grant funds, sponsorship dollars, and resources for your program and projects? Let us help you create a powerful package of visuals and narrative to make you more competitive and successful when you are in search of dollars.
Request for Proposals
What is a request for proposal (rfp) and how do you create one? Sometime or another, you have probably encountered this term and wondered how to craft and advertise an rfp, a document used to secure the services of a professional consultant or product. Our office will work with you to put together an effective request for proposal. Learn how to craft a document for seeking services such as master plan development, streetscape design and engineering, arborist services, landscaping services, or parking studies and plans.
Management Services for Vacant Positions
It is essential to maintain compliance with all local, state and national requirements during times of transition. Georgia Downtowns is pleased to provide temporary management services, resources, and skills to cities of all sizes. “Great American Main Street” award-winning manager, Joel Cordle, can help your organization through a period of transition, crisis, or change. Cordle is an expert in the field and can assist until a permanent manager is found. He can also assist with job descriptions and advertising to help fill vacant positions.
Basic Administrative Operations Training
Does your organization need assistance with fulfilling the requirements to operate a Main Street program, downtown development authority, or a nonprofit (501c3) agency? We can get you on to the right track for compliance, using the best practices for meeting federal, state, and local requirements. Georgia Downtowns will lead you through the processes for preparing and submitting the annual Secretary of State corporate registration, IRS tax filings, downtown development authority annual registration, and reports to city council. Joel Cordle can assist with organizing and conducting annual meetings and officer elections.
Sustainable Main Street Program Partnership Plan
Your downtown revitalization program’s success depends on building and sustaining productive relationships. We can help you build more effective partnerships at the local, regional, state, and national levels and build your network for long term success and sustainability.