| Main Street improvement team |
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VISION STATEMENT:
To create and sustain a vibrant, harmonious and welcoming Main Street Corridor.
MISSION STATEMENT:
* To ensure an attractive and functional Main Street which will generate pride of ownership and community patriotism.
* To attract tourist and resident interest in Main Street and Sheridan businesses.
* To improve economic development and opportunity for Main Street and side street businesses by enhancing the appeal of Main Street.
* To secure and invest funds and manpower to restore and enhance Main Street.
* To form local committees and special interest groups (I.e., students as well as business persons) to realize the vision for Main Street beautification.
* To "get ourselves on the map".
MSIT sponsors the annual "Mingling on main street Wine Festival"
MSIT MEMBERS Officers: Macel Anderson - President 842-5790 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Scott Payne –Vice President 842-7224 Kay Carter-Colwell - Secretary 842-5650 Julie Ward - Treasurer 842-5485 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Members: Kim Beal, Frank Ford, Beverly Ford, Matt and Suzanne Hill (Mill Creek Inn), Sherry Huff, Stephanie Kruer, Larry Moulson, Mary Oliver, John Pohl
History of MSIT The Sheridan Main Street improvement team was formed in 2004 as a committee appointed by the mayor of Sheridan and the Town Council. The formation of the Main Street team (or MSIT) was a result of several residents expressing a concern over the crumbling sidewalks, the town needing a facelift and new life added to our existing buildings and businesses, and the fact that the Montana Department of Transportation was looking at redoing our Main Street, which is also State Highway 287. There were major concerns about sidewalks, crosswalks, parking issues, etc. The mayor of Sheridan and the town council appointed two Town Council members and several other interested residents to work with the Montana Department of Transportation (MT DOT) to ensure that the wishes of the community were respected in regards to sidewalk, lighting, parking issues, green areas, etc.. Our first formal meeting was held in November of 2004. At that meeting, officers were elected, committees named and vision and mission statements written. Dress up short and long-term goals were assembled in discussed. In May of 2005, the MSIT members ‘cleaned up the town' by offering to paint every business, wash every window on Main Street, and patch sidewalks. Several businesses joined in and within weeks, five businesses are either treated to new paint or other face lifting projects. Within six months, other businesses stepped up to the plate and did face lifts, painting projects, and all the empty stores on Main Street have been sold and were in the process of being restored, repaired, and opened for business. The following year, one corner of a very busy intersection was cleaned up and landscape. In 2006 MSIT members learned of the new Montana State Main Street program being implemented by the Montana State Department of Commerce. A member was sent to the information meeting. MSIT began the process to become a pilot program at our application was submitted. Because of the funding requirements, we had to withdraw our application but continued to follow the guidelines. A design plan was drafted, more committee members solicited, and fund raising discussed. In a joint venture with the town of Sheridan an empty lot was purchased for town parking lot. Lott was cleaned up, signs were erected in the public has been encouraged to use a lot. In February of 2007, MSIT was contacted about the new Main Street affiliate program for small rural communities who are exploring downtown revitalization. Our application was submitted and the town of Sheridan was named one of the first four "Main Street program affiliates". MSIT is currently working on obtaining our nonprofit status, 501(C) 3, and separating ourselves as a committee of the town council. A business plan and bylaws have been drafted and are in review by the administrative committee. It is our goal to obtain or 501 (C) 3 status and our own identity by the end of 2007. Following the guidelines of the Montana Main Street program, committees have been designed and guidelines established. We, as members of MSIT, are committed to the improvement, revitalization, community design, and economic growth of the town of Sheridan. Although the Montana DOT has now pushed their Main Street project back to 2011-2012 MSIT will continue to work with them and to improve our Main Street by achieving our short and long-term goals. Some of our goals include:
to fund our first efforts, several small fund raising events were held. Although they were successful, a concentrated effort for one big event is being made. In order to fund future projects, MSIT is hosting an annual wine fest, to be called "Mingling for Main Street". It is our goal to build on this every year and make it a destination event gone from not only the community of Sheridan, the Ruby Valley, a purse from outside your immediate area.
For more information on the National Historic Trust and Main Street Programs click here |
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