We offer information that communities need to successfully revitalize their downtowns.
This is a one-stop shop for information and links to other organizations that offer insights and services for improving your downtown. Whether you’re a volunteer or a professional in the field of community and economic development, you’ll find this material helpful for the successful management of your Main Street district.
In This Section
Advocacy/Public Policy
8-80 Cities – 8 – 80 Cities is a Canadian based non-profit organization with an international outlook. Our goal is to contribute to the creation of vibrant cities and healthy communities, where residents live happier and enjoy great public places.Bike Wal...
Architecture
AIA/Connecticut - AIA/CT serves the architectural profession, encourages design excellence, and works to improve society through a concern for the quality of the built and natural environments.Form-Based Codes Institute - An emerging approach...
Community Development
Capitol Region Council of Governments' TOOL KIT - An extensive library of publications compiled by CRCOG. CRCOG is dedicated to expanding the concept of voluntary cooperation among its member municipalities as the means to successfully respond to many...
Community Foundations in Connecticut
Get to know your local community foundationAn important source for funding and organizational development.Community foundations are designed to pool donations into a coordinated investment and grant making facility dedicated primarily to t...
Data and Statistics
Area Vibes - Provides a livability score by area, using a grade-scoring system for schools, amenities, employment and more.BizStats - Instant access to useful financial ratios, business statistics & benchmarks, effective and understandable...
Downtown Organizations & Associations
Center for Community Change - Helping low-income people, especially people of color, build powerful, effective organizations through which they can change their communities and public policies for the better.Center for Community Economic Development...
Economic Development
New! Connecticut Downtowns Matter. Here's Why. - This analysis, prepared for CMSC by Camoin Associates, demonstrates the billion-dollar potential located in CT's downtowns and Main Streets, and offers case studies of 3 CT downtowns: Bridgeport, Storrs...
Funding / Philanthropy
New! Downtown Financing Navigator - CMSC created this new tool to allow downtown organizations to quickly and easily see what funding sources are available. Simply enter your search criteria on the left and the color-coded matrix on the right will...
Land Use / Real Estate Development
Bank of America Historic Tax Credit Fund - This link takes you to the National Trust website. Search for "Historic Tax Credit" for information about the Fund.Community Viz - Community Viz provides technology that allows people to envision land...
Nonprofit Training & Education
BoardSource - Formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards. The premier resource for practical information, tools and best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide.Center for Community...
Parking
National Parking Association publications.Center for Transportation & Livable Systems
Research, education & outreach activities dedicated to "Sustainable and Livable Transportation Systems for Smart Growth"Walkable Streets
Tools...
Preservation
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism - Identification, registration, and protection of the state's cultural resources. Check pages in the History section.Connecticut Preservation Action – the unified voice of the preservation community a...
Promotions/Sponsorship
Downtown Research & Development Center
Provides detailed case studies, practical news reports, how-to information and hundreds of real-world examples of how traditional downtowns, business improvement districts, main street communities and others...
Public Art
Americans for the Arts
The nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in AmericaCT Commission on Culture & Tourism - Arts DivisionPublic Art Network
The only professional network in the USA dedicated to the field...
Public Safety
Center for Community Safety
Engages communities in the strategic utilization of research to shape action and enhance response to community safety issuesWeed & Seed
Sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, a multi-agency approach to crime...
Redevelopment / Adaptive Reuse
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: An Adaptive Reuse Summit -- speaker presentationsUntapped Potential: Strategies for Revitalization and Reuse -- October 2017 National Trust for Historic PreservationUntapped Potential – Top Strategies to Promote Bu...
Regional Planning
REGIONAL COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENTS: The municipalities within each of those regions have voluntarily created, through local ordinance, one of the three types of Regional Planning Organization allowed under Connecticut statute (a Regional Council of Elected...
Retail/Marketing
Branding Main Street - a guide to creating an identity for your downtown.International Council of Shopping Centers - the global trade association of the shopping center industry.VisualStore - Complete retail design and visual merchandising...
Small Business Planning & Development
BPlans – The Business Planning Experts.Burnes Consulting – Small business success is the root of every downtown's success.Business Plan Writing for Beginners - This article describes the basic components of a business plan.Business USA ...
Smart Growth
Green Initiatives – Main Street Iowa incorporates "Green" in all of its programs. The Division shares information on the GreeNetwork, incorporates green practices into meetings and workshops, requires certain green criteria be met on funded projects, of...
Special Events
Cultural Heritage Tourism - Site is designed for individuals and organizations working to develop, market or manage cultural heritage tourism programs.International Special Events Society (ISES) - To educate, advance and promote the special events...
State of Connecticut
State of Connecticut - From here you can go to the web page of any branch of state government or search by keyword.Office of GovernorSecretary of the StateDepartment of Economic & Community DevelopmentDepartment of Public...
Transportation
Context Sensitive Solutions - Balancing the need for the highway improvement with the need to safely integrate the design into the surrounding natural and human environments.Federal Highway Administration - Toolkit for integrating land use and...
Urban Design / Placemaking
Community Viz - Community Viz provides technology that allows people to envision land use alternatives and understand their potential impacts.Congress for the New Urbanism - The principles of the New Urbanism include coherent regional planning,...
