The Oklahoma Main Street Center announced today the addition of two new programs – both in Tulsa, Okla. The Historic Greenwood District and East Tulsa now join with 30 other programs throughout the state, raising the total of urban programs to five and three associate programs.
The Main Street Program is a comprehensive revitalization effort that provides communities with tools to improve their historic central and neighborhood business district areas. The Oklahoma Main Street program serves as the state coordinating program for Main Street America, a program of the National Main Street Center, Inc. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce oversees the state Main Street Program.
“The addition of these programs in Tulsa further the Oklahoma Main Street Center’s new UrbanMain initiative to build upon and strengthen not only our rural areas, but our cities as well,” said Buffy Hughes, Oklahoma Main Street Director. “Our urban areas come with their own unique issues and concerns and through this National Main Street endeavor, we hope to provide more targeted resources. We look forward to a bright future together as we build on what has been, showcase what is, and explore what is yet to come.”
The Historic Greenwood District and East Tulsa join already designated Main Street programs in Tulsa that include Kendall Whittier and Tulsa Route 66. Stockyards City Main Street in Oklahoma City is the fifth, and oldest, urban program in the state.
As part of the Main Street UrbanMain program, all will receive training and technical assistance for preservation-based commercial district revitalization as well as specialized training for urban districts that includes topics such as security, transportation and gentrification. The new programs will receive leadership training for their program directors and board of directors, as well as training in the nationally recognized Four-Point Main Street approach of organization, promotion, design and economic vitality, Hughes added.
According to latest figures, Oklahoma Main Street communities have generated more than $1.8 billion in total public and private reinvestment, created nearly 20,000 new jobs and helped in the development of more than 5,700 new or expanded small businesses.
For more information about the Oklahoma Main Street Program, please call (405) 815-6552 or visit OKcommerce.gov/main-street.
