Erin Barnes, the Executive Director of Main Street America, the national organization for which CMSC serves as CT’s Statewide Coordinating Program, recently visited CMSC, meeting with staff and touring some of our member downtowns.

CMSC’s Michelle McCabe and Christine Schilke took Erin to meet with Rep. Jane Garibay (who is also a member of the legislative Main Street Working Group) to talk about the issues of importance to CT’s main streets. Erin then toured member downtowns Wallingford and Westville Village in New Haven. 

In Wallingford, WCI Executive Director Liz Davis, Economic Development Specialist Don Crouch and Mayor Vincent Cervoni talked about their plans for increased economic development, how CMSC’s Assessment is helping guide their efforts and noted the many new downtown businesses.

In Westville, we joined joined Lizzy Donius, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA) Executive Director, City officials Carlos Eyzaguirre and Malachi Bridges, Ariel Vega from Senator Chris Murphy’s office and WVRA stakeholders for a brief presentation and tour of the commercial district, learning about how the neighborhood’s resident artists and entrepreneurs contribute to the area’s unique vibe, discussing the large new mixed-use development underway and hearing about the area’s plans for development.