Our story
In the late 1980's, McComb Main Street Association was formed and affiliated with Mississippi Main Street Association as a Designated Community. We later lost the Designated Community status and are currently affiliated as a Associate Community
In the 1960's and 1970's, thousands of Downtowns were dying as businesses moved to strip centers and malls. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)studied what could be done to revitalize Downtowns, and found that a town that maintains its historic core is a town that has pride in itself. That pride is usually a magnet for businesses looking for a place to invest and for customers looking for a uniquely pleasant place to shop, dine, or reside. Consequently, the NTHP developed a very common-sense, low-cost, self-help, four-step approach to downtown revitalization:
Economic Vitality: Build a diverse economic base, catalyze smart new investment, and cultivate strong new entrepreneurship. Design: Preserve and celebrate the historic character, create an inviting atmosphere, foster accessible people-centered public spaces. Promotion: Market the district's unique historic character and ambience; communicate its distinct defining features; coordinate the sales, marketing, and event activities of downtown merchants; and support a buy-local experience. Organization: Build leadership and strong organizational capacity through broad community engagement and partnerships across sectors.
Nationwide, efforts to take back Main Street were put in motion, but there was a desperate need for expertise and support. The need was soon filled by the NTHP. In 1980, after three years of pilot studies, the NTHP established the National Main Street Center to provide the support and encourage the revitalization of Main Street based on historic preservation and sound business practices. To date, 46 states and more than 1,600 communities participate in the Main Street Program nationwide.
Inasmuch as possible, McComb Main Street Association (MMSA) will follow the four-step approach above to aid the City, Property and Business Owners, to assist in the revitalization of Downtown McComb and surrounding area.
In the 1960's and 1970's, thousands of Downtowns were dying as businesses moved to strip centers and malls. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP)studied what could be done to revitalize Downtowns, and found that a town that maintains its historic core is a town that has pride in itself. That pride is usually a magnet for businesses looking for a place to invest and for customers looking for a uniquely pleasant place to shop, dine, or reside. Consequently, the NTHP developed a very common-sense, low-cost, self-help, four-step approach to downtown revitalization:
Economic Vitality: Build a diverse economic base, catalyze smart new investment, and cultivate strong new entrepreneurship. Design: Preserve and celebrate the historic character, create an inviting atmosphere, foster accessible people-centered public spaces. Promotion: Market the district's unique historic character and ambience; communicate its distinct defining features; coordinate the sales, marketing, and event activities of downtown merchants; and support a buy-local experience. Organization: Build leadership and strong organizational capacity through broad community engagement and partnerships across sectors.
Nationwide, efforts to take back Main Street were put in motion, but there was a desperate need for expertise and support. The need was soon filled by the NTHP. In 1980, after three years of pilot studies, the NTHP established the National Main Street Center to provide the support and encourage the revitalization of Main Street based on historic preservation and sound business practices. To date, 46 states and more than 1,600 communities participate in the Main Street Program nationwide.
Inasmuch as possible, McComb Main Street Association (MMSA) will follow the four-step approach above to aid the City, Property and Business Owners, to assist in the revitalization of Downtown McComb and surrounding area.
Vickie M Webb
Board President
McComb Main Street Association's (MMSA) goal is to be a leader in the revitalization of Downtown McComb and improve the quality of life for all the citizens and businesses in McComb and Pike County.
We realize that Downtown is the heart of the City and was for many years the center of commerce for all of Pike County. One of our greatest assets are human ones; if you take an inventory of the people from McComb or with ties to McComb who have excelled in various forms of the arts, you would learn that we have an exceptionally high percentage per capita. We should be able to use the arts to aid us in the revitablization of McComb and surrounding area.
