Action Strategy

Goal: T = TourismED = Entrepeneurial DevelopmentAIM = Amenity In-MigrantsAG = Value-Added AgricultureCI = Community ImprovementsOC = Organizational CapacityVCA = Volunteers & Community Attitude
Strategy CI1 Develop an Active Main Street Program
Background/Concept:
The communities of St. Anthony and Ashton have central business districts that are major public assets to community residents. With fresh attention, collaborative thinking, and some new investment, these two downtowns can be set onto an upward spiral of vitality as more activity spurs more investment and better appearance, leading to more activity and spending. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has a long established and proven program called the Main Street Program. This program has measurable success, with claims of generating $25.76 in new investment for every dollar put into this program. It uses a four-point program and holistic approach to enhance the appearance, market the commercial district, and slowly re-structure the economic base with mixed-use development. A good Main Street program will connect many of the strategies in this plan and build synergy among them-- from infrastructure improvements to affordable housing, a farmer's market, entrepreneurship, attracting amenity in-migrants, or even a community store. A significant, intentional, and long-term commitment to this program may be one of the best investments Fremont County could make.
The Main Street program can be explored using the materials in the Main Street Resource Library until local commitment grows to become an official "Start-Up" community. In fact, 41 states have coordinated Main Street programs, but Idaho is not yet one of them. In time, a state appropriation for this program may yield state resources for cost-sharing formal use of the program. Idaho Falls, Old town Pocatello, Twin Falls, Coeur d'Alene, and Sandpoint currently have full-time Main Street program directors. A number of smaller Idaho communities have expressed interest.
Potential Partners:
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Idaho Department of Commerce
Potential Resources:
Jeff Patlovich, Fremont County planning director is very familiar with this program.
Concerns:
It may be difficult to go slow and take the baby steps advised by Main Street. It may also be counter-intuitive to slow down to gather the support of all the business community and to hear their concerns. However, this sort of foundational work is critical to long-term success. This program represents a multi-year effort. It is likely to ultimately require a local improvement district and major CDBG grants. Trying to force major improvements before community readiness has grown, will prove counter-productive.
Ranking Score
Plausibility (To what degree will a success fix the problem? i.e. size of community reward) Score 1-10 / 7
Feasibility (Can we access the resources to succeed? i.e. probability of success) Score 1-10 / 5
Community Readiness (Score 1-5; 1=Not Ready, 5= Very Ready) / 3
Total Score = Plausibility x Feasibility x Community Readiness / 56
Action Steps
a.  Enroll Fremont County as a dues-paying member in the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Program. This allows access to an extensive library of materials. / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going
b.  Download, print, and read extensively from the Main Street library looking for relevant first steps and comparable case studies. Talk up the program and begin to demonstrate its principles in action. Share materials with community groups as appropriate. / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going
c.  Contact the Main Street coordinator in Idaho Falls and ask her to offer an orientation workshop in St Anthony and Ashton. (This will likely require a small honorarium for her time.) Market to downtown business owners, Chamber members, and local elected officials. / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-Going
d.  Use the experience of Jeff Patlovich (who has run a Main Street program) as a sounding board for proposed actions and to brainstorm first steps to engage both communities. / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going
e.  Consider a Main Street training as a professional development investment for the economic development specialist. / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going
f.  Help the City of St. Anthony apply to IRP and AIC for a Community Review, and assist the City in organizing a home team. Identify downtown revitalization, community identity and attitudes, and connecting with the Sand Dunes as priorities. The Community Review could be replaced by a Nat'l Main St Community Audit. / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going
g.  / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going