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| Basic
Premise |
- Advocates
a return to community self-reliance.
- Teaches
and empowers local citizens to identify and rebuild traditional assets
such as unique architecture, personal service, local ownership and
a sense of place.
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| Methodology |
Creating
a comprehensive program based upon:
- design
- promotion
- economic
restructuring
- organization
The
key to a successful program is that work must take place in all
four areas simultaneously. Committees comprised of both experts
and laymen from the local and state level have come together to
discuss future projects. This grassroots, bottom-up process is more
cost effective to sustain continual economic development efforts. |
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| Main
Street USA History |
- A formula to help small communities was founded in the 1970's by
the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
- Demonstration Main Street Projects were developed in 1976 in Illinois,
South Dakota and Indiana.
- Main Street programs operate in over 40 states.
- Brush joins 1,600 communities in filing monthly reports across the
nation in measuring progress.
- National statistics show that $38.24 is leveraged on every $1 invested.
- National progress shows 51,000 new businesses, 190,000 new jobs
and the rehabilitation of 62,000 buildings.
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| Main
Street Colorado History |
- In 1999, the Colorado Community Revitalization Association received
a $445,000 grant to start Main Street in Colorado. Barbara Silverman,
CCRA's executive director, oversees progress within the Colorado Main
Street communities.
- In 2001, Brush was one of four towns selected as a pilot community,
along with Greeley, Canon City and Montrose.
- In 2002, Cortez and Old Town Arvada were added to the list. Additional
applications will be accepted in November.
- Each of the communities receive $35,000 in technical assistance
from the state office during a 3-year start up phase.
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| Historic
Preservation's Role |
- Buildings describe the heritage and evolution of every community.
- Colorado Historical Society has provided annual grants to help fund
the Main Street Program's startup.
- A cultural resource survey planned for 2002-2003 will outline the
buildings' history. The survey is being funded by the State Historical
Fund.
- Preservation of our older buildings will create a unique visual
identity for Brush.
- Among Brush's most notable buildings: Central School, Stockman's
Bank, the Carroll Hotel, Emerson Theatre, Knearl Mercantile, Nelson
Store, Old Brush Armory, Knearl School, Rankin Presbyterian Church,
Carnegie Library, and All Saints Lutheran Church.
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| Preservation
has potential to drive Economic Development |
- Many rural areas lack ingredients important to the industries they
can attract such as access to major markets, multiple transportation
systems, proximity to raw materials, and the latest in electronic
infrastructure. But there are other assets to be used as building
blocks.
- A majority of preservation projects are modest in scale, remaining
affordable when large new construction projects are not.
- Historic preservation is extremely labor intensive: half of the
expenditures will go for labor and half for materials.
- Local labor and suppliers get a much larger share of the total expenditures
than large new construction projects, thereby better stimulating the
local economy.
- Preservation efforts normally generate:
- New businesses
- New jobs
- More private investments in properties
- Additional tourism
- Heightened quality of life, sense of neighborhood and community
pride
- Increased property and sales tax
- Increased property values
- Compatible land use patterns
- Fewer pockets of deterioration
- Financial incentives such as tax credits and preservation grants
that help keep business owners' costs down thereby freeing up
more money for business expansion and crating additional jobs.
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| Investor's
Roundup |
Brush
Main Street allows investors tax credits because the project is
an accepted enterprise zone project by N.E. Colorado Association
of Local Governments. The project is funded primarily by local businesses,
the City of Brush and office sharing by the Brush Area Chamber of
Commerce.
Roundup
of Investors:
- Cattle
Barons:
Aable Loan & Finance Co., Bank of Colorado, City of
Brush, East Morgan County Hospital, Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center,
State Farm Insurance, Viareo Wireless.
- Trail
Boss:
Brush Trading Post, Farmer's State Bank, Ingmire-Phillips Insurance.
- Gun
Fighters:
Ackley Building Center, Air-O-Therm, Anderson & Chapin,
P.C., Brush Family Dentistry, Corral Sports Bar, Dunker's Garden
Center, Olde Tyme Country Store, Speech Language Pathologist-Elaine
Prascher, Wahlert Realty.
- Rough
Riders:Brandenburg
& McGuire P.C.,
Brush Family Dentistry, Brush News Tribune, Creative Memories,
Farmland Coop, Gateway Realty LLC, Glade's Gunsmithing, Headly
Tax Service, Hertneky Vision Care Center, Hummingbird Press, J
& J's Hairstyling, Karen Temple-Mary Kay Cosmetics, Morgan
County Economic Development Corp., Ruhl's Distributing, Sands
Theatre, Helen Schultz-Attorney at Law.
The
original town plat forms the boundaries for the Main Street district.
Properties located within the district, in addition to those listed
above, include: A&R Automotive, Associate Auctioneers of Colorado,
Audrey's Hairport, Boehm Farmers Insurance Agency, Brush Chiropractic
Clinic, Brush Hair Co., Brush Housing Authority, Brush Laundromat/Car
Wash, Brush Locker, Candy's Dance Academy, Carousel Salon, Carrillo's
Mexican Restaurant, Corner Car Wash, Downtown Duds, Dr. Lynn Dilley,
Duckwalls, Equitable Savings and Loan, G & T's Farmers Lounge,
The Hearing Center, Heer Mortuary & Crematory, JDz Auto Body
& Repair,La Fiesta, Lasting Images Photography Studio, M &
M Coop Elevators, Oakeson & Associates, O'Neil & Co., Pabst
& Milano, Attys., Parrish Galleries, Softone Cleaners, Standard
Motor Co., Taekwondo Studio, VFW and Weathercraft Roofing.
Potential
investors and/or volunteers are encouraged
to call the Chamber Office at 842-2666, or by E-mail. |
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