Governor Jim Edgar recently honored six Illinois communities for their efforts to revitalize their downtown areas through the Illinois Main Street program.

"These communities have proven their dedication to rejuvenating their downtown business districts, bringing in new economic activity and creating new jobs for their residents," the Governor said. "The Main Street program has a positive impact on our economy by helping communities reach their downtown development goals."

The following communities received the first annual Awards of Excellence in four separate areas:

• Organization: Prophetstown was honored for a membership brochure describing the vision, mission and objectives of its program.
• Design: Lincoln was recognized for a project to restore a piece of history and improve the downtown streetscape.
• Promotion: Macomb won for a collectible limited-edition Christmas ornament. Paxton also was honored for a community directory highlighting various aspects of the community.
• Economic Restructuring: Paxton won for a telephone survey and a downtown employee survey that helped assess community perceptions and attitudes. Prophetstown was recognized for developing a color-coded map of downtown businesses.

Currently, 13 Illinois communities are participating in the Illinois Main Street program which was initiated in 1993. They include Flora, Danville, Golconda, Lincoln, Macomb, Mattoon, Mt. Carmel, Paxton, Prophetstown, Rushville, Salem, Savanna and Stockton.

Galesburg is one of the three original National Main Street pilot communities. The community participated in the program from 1978 to 1980. Seminary Street in downtown Galesburg dates back to 1841 and is a success story for the program.

Illinois Main Street operates in conjunction with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and is based on the nationally recognized Four-Point Approach developed by the National Main Street Center.

Page 20 / Illinois Municipal Review / May 1995