The City of Pittsburgh recognizes the important role neighborhood commercial districts play in the overall health of the City. A sound neighborhood shopping area contributes to a high quality of life. Viable commercial districts provide neighborhoods a competitive advantage in retaining existing residents and attracting new people to the City.
Mainstreets Pittsburgh is designed to provide Pittsburgh’s neighborhood business organizations a range of technical assistance and financial incentives in a coordinated, comprehensive manner based upon the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s four-point “Main Street” approach. The program assistance is provided through an annual application and award process.
More specifically, the program provides financial incentives for storefront improvements, business expansions/start-ups and direct services for planning and organizational development.
The City recognizes that in order for revitalization to be successful there must be a strong local organization which has a viable plan to follow and which is capable of raising local financial contributions for their program. Thus, planning and organizational assistance is considered the foundation of the Mainstreets Pittsburgh program and is designed to improve the capacity of local groups to undertake a revitalization program. The program also includes assistance in preparing or updating a Business Development Action Plan (BDAP) for the district, a prerequisite for receiving additional services and City support in the Mainstreets Pittsburgh program. This assistance is available to all business or community organizations involved in neighborhood commercial revitalization activities and will be provided on a request basis, based on program resources and availability of funding. The Mainstreets Pittsburgh Program is based upon core components of the “Main Street” model developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Main Street Approach is based on a comprehensive strategy of work, using four points that provide a structural framework to identify key problems and goals. The four points of the Main Street Approach are Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Restructuring. The description of each of these is provided below, along with the resources available through Mainstreets Pittsburgh:
- Organization - building consensus and cooperation among the many groups and individuals who have a vested interest in the commercial district - and a role in the revitalization process. Mainstreets Pittsburgh delivers technical assistance and training in organizational development and fundraising (through the Community Technical Assistance Center) and general Main Street principles (through the PA Downtown Center and other technical assistance providers). Additionally, matching funding is provided to Business Improvement Districts and districts eligible to receive shared district management services.
- Design - enhancing the commercial district’s physical appearance by rehabilitating historic buildings and managing design improvements and new construction. Mainstreets Pittsburgh provides design assistance (through the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh) to focus on individual buildings or blocks, open spaces, Streetscape improvements, and safety issues within the commercial district. Matching funds are available to the business district for neighborhood appearance programs and major Streetscape improvement projects, and to individual building owners undertaking façade renovation projects (through the Streetface program).
- Promotion - marketing the commercial district’s assets to customers, residents, potential investors, new businesses, and visitors. Mainstreets Pittsburgh provides funds to assist the business district’s promotional efforts, including web site design, newsletters, banners, brochures, business directories, business festivals and other promotional related activities.
- Economic Restructuring - strengthening the district’s existing economic base while finding ways to expand it to meet new opportunities. Mainstreets Pittsburgh provides business recruitment & retention assistance, site development assistance for vacant or underutilized properties, baseline inventory assistance (through CTAC) and market studies, as appropriate. Additionally, business and commercial real estate gap financing is available through the URA’s Business Development Center.
