Sonora Main Street Program
Sonora became a member of the Texas Main Street Program of the Texas Historical Commission in 1994. This program assists
cities in revitalizing the central business district and preserving their important historical buildings. The
goal of the program is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation by using sound management
and private sector techniques.
The Main Street concept was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. When the Trust established
a National Main Street Center in 1980, Texas was among six states selected to participate in the downtown development program.
The Main Street Program works to bring downtown revitalization to communities across the state. Each city is required to fund a full-time manager for three
years. In turn, the Texas Main Street Program is pledged to work with each of these communities, providing start-up
assistance in the first year, and assist in the development of local expertise in the next two years. The Texas Historical Commission also has developed a cooperative effort with other state
agencies to work with the Main Street cities. These agencies include the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of Commerce, Governor's Budget and Planning Office,
and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Soon after a town is selected for Main Street designation, the Texas Main Street Program staff makes an evaluation of the community's needs, obstacles, and potential for downtown or neighborhood
revitalization. Then, skilled professionals from various fields are recruited to participate in a three-day evaluation of the town.
On the last day of their visit, these professionals hold a town meeting and present short and long-term recommendations.
The primary responsibility for realizing the goals of a Main Street revitalization program rests upon the downtown business community. The implementation phase
depends largely on local initiative and what the business community does for itself, not primarily upon what any number of other parties can do for it.
Therefore, the existing downtown business association or Chamber of Commerce has a major role in promoting the program and fostering recommended
business improvements among downtown's individual owners and operators. The group has a number of roles to perform in promoting extended hours of operation, better building maintenance,
and storefront rehabilitation, better promotional activities and improved advertising and merchandising.
The Main Street Program is run by a manager. The local Main Street Manager is responsible for the
development, execution and documentation of a comprehensive Main Street revitalization program in the local community. He/She coordinates all project activities locally, but is also a part of a statewide
network of professsionals working to find ways to revitalize central business districts and share techniques, methodology and
infrmation with other communities.
The manager needs to familiarize themselves with those who are indirectly and directly involved in the
downtown are; develop strategies for building from the community's human and economic resources; develop
and conduct an on-going public awareness and educational program designed to enhance appreciation of downtown's assets and the importance of the
historic fabric and foster an understanding of the Main Street program's goals and objectives. Through speaking engagements, radio, television appearances and newspaper
interviews the manger is to keep the program in the public eye.
Ann Kay, the Sonora Main Street manager would like to invite you to take a virual walking tour of our downtown area. See the streets that once were lined with gunfighters, outlaws and heroes of
Texas. They say when the wind is blowing just right and the sun sets, the sounds of the wild west can be heard. The only way to truly experience this phenomenon is to walk along the main street and ask the local
merchants.
