FIVE New Main Streets Added to the Oregon Main Street Network

Baker City; Photos Courtesy of Baker City Downtown

FIVE New Main Streets Added to the Oregon Main Street Network

Oregon Main Street (OMS) has accepted Baker City Downtown at the Designated Main Street level of the Oregon Main Street Network and added Downtown Bend Business Association, Corvallis Downtown Organization, Main Street Mosier, and the Yamhill Downtown Association at the Affiliated Main Street level of the OMS Network.

We congratulate these main streets for their high degree of commitment to using the nationally recognized place-based Main Street Approach™ methodology to create lasting impact in enhancing their historic downtowns. To learn more about Oregon’s vibrant Main Street Program, visit the Oregon Heritage website here. 

Bend: Photos Courtesy of Bend Business Association

In order to qualify for this level of recognition, a city’s main street must have a highly cohesive core of historic or older commercial and mixed-use buildings that represent the community's architectural heritage and may include compatible in-fill. They must also have a sufficient mass of businesses, buildings, and density to be effective, as well as be a compact and pedestrian-oriented district. Such main streets are demonstrative of crucial historic preservation efforts in Oregon. 

Corvallis; Photos courtesy of Corvallis Downtown Organization

The Designated Main Street level is a mark of distinction that reflects a demonstrated effort to build, grow, and sustain a main street organization to support efforts to improve a community's historic downtown by leveraging partnerships and engaging community members. Communities at this level have access to technical assistance to help them continue to strengthen their efforts and impact.

The primary emphasis of the Affiliated Main Street level is to provide technical assistance to programs in their formative years of developing and implementing the Main Street Approach™.  Acceptance into this level allows communities to participate in training, community assessments, technical assistance, and receive local capacity building support.

Mosier; Photos courtesy of Main Street Mosier

The selection process included submitting an application that describes their district, previous efforts to improve downtown, commitment to implementing the Main Street Approach™, board development efforts, partnerships, in addition to other criteria.

Currently, there are over 100 communities in Oregon participating in one of the four levels of the Oregon Main Street Network: Accredited Main Street, Designated Main Street, Affiliated Main Street, and Connected Communities. There isn't a fee to participate in the Oregon Main Street Network. Oregon Main Street is part of Oregon Heritage in the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. We applaud all of these efforts from across the state!