Downtown Related Websites:
www.mainstreet.org - The National Trust Main Street Center is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In the 1970s, the National Trust developed its pioneering Main Street approach to commercial district revitalization, an innovative methodology that combines historic preservation with economic development to restore prosperity and vitality to downtowns and neighborhood business districts.
www.ida-downtown.org - The International Downtown Association is a world leader of and champion for vital and livable urban centers. Through its network of committed individuals, its rich body of knowledge, and its unique capacity to nurture community-building partnerships, IDA is a guiding force in creating healthy and dynamic centers that anchor the well being of towns, cities and regions of the world.
http://ncpp.rutgers.edu/bdm.php - Business District Management Certificate sponsored by Rutgers University provides students with a user-friendly, online learning platform that offers training in the skills to effectively manage business districts. In particular, the program provides strategies that promote stakeholder involvement to enhance and add value to business district operations and outcomes.
www.medamd.com - Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) is a nonprofit organization of economic development professionals. Established in 1961, MEDA members promote the economic well being of Maryland by working to improve the states business climate and the professionalism of those in the field of economic development.
www.downtownvirginia.org - Virgninia Downtown Development Association is an independent association that focuses on the importance of Virginia's downtowns. It advocates, supports, and promotes leadership in downtown development throughout the Commonwealth.
www.padowntown.org - Pennsylvania Downtown Center provides outreach, technical assistance and educational services primarily utilizing the National Main Street’s Four Point Approach to communities interested in the revitalization of their central business districts and surrounding residential neighborhoods.is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the revitalization of the Commonwealth’s Core or traditional communities.
www.cdtoolbox.org - This site is a joint collaboration between Cornell University and Penn State University and is maintained by the Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) located at Cornell. Its purpose is to provide accessible tools to local community and economic development practitioners so that they can become more knowledgeable about development issues and are better equipped to assist in determining the future of their communities.
While the site is primarily intended for rural communities in New York and Pennsylvania, the information contained should be helpful to anyone interested in downtown development.
www.newrules.org - The New Rules Project is a program of the Minneapolis-based Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). The Institute proposes a "New Localist" approach to development that focuses on creating "human-scaled, environmentally healthy, politically active, and economically robust communities." The website contains a variety of policy tools and tips for creating more self-reliant downtowns. In particular, the "Retail" section of the website covers new ideas that communities are using to foster local ownership of retail and more intimate links between commerce and place. Among other things, it contains an interesting article on "50 Ideas to Strengthen Independent Businesses in Your Community."
www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/dma - The Downtown and Business District Market Analysis website was designed by the University of Wisconsin Extension's Center for Community Economic Development to help local business leaders, entrepreneurs, developers and economic development professionals understand the changing marketplace and identify real estate development opportunities for their communities. The site guides users through many of the analytical techniques used in analyzing specific development opportunities for a downtown area.
The tools and techniques presented in the workbook were designed in a cooperative effort between the University of Wisconsin Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce's Main Street Program. While the material on the site was developed for application in Wisconsin towns, it can be applied to communities throughout the country.
www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/publicat/letstalk.html - Another section of the University of Wisconsin Extension's Center for Community Economic Development website. It is full of articles on expanding retail and services in downtown areas.
www.stamfordreview.com - The Stamford Review is a scholarly publication dedicated to issues in downtown development, land use, architecture, and urban affairs. Primarily focused on issues concerning New York, the publication has also printed articles on retail revitalization in Cleveland and the community revitalization efforts of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Registration is required for access to the site.