By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Ten years after the program was ended, only to restart years later, Hays can once again count itself among the ranks of cities in the Kansas Main Street Program.
Gov. Laura Kelly made the announcement Thursday in Salina. Along with Hays, Salina and Great Bend have returned to the program that “helps communities preserve and revitalize their downtown districts by helping them develop a comprehensive strategy,” according to an announcement from Kelly’s office.
"The Kansas Main Street network continues to grow, and it's great to see communities that were previously part of the program rejoin this year," Kelly said. "Today's announcement is a sign for the future of our state's vibrant downtowns and the state's economy. It's clear the Kansas Main Street program is not only back on its feet—it's now stronger than ever."
The program was initially launched in 1985, was ended by the Brownback administration in 2012, and was restarted in 2019 by Kelly.
“These communities were in the program during its first 27 years of existence, and since its return, these three communities have expressed interest in rejoining,” the announcement said. “With these three communities rejoining, the Kansas Main Street program has added ten communities in the past two years, bringing the total number of Designated communities to 35.”
The self-described “self-help technical assistance program” focuses on organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring in Kansas downtowns.
Among the attendees at the ceremony was Downtown Hays Development Corporation executive director Sara Bloom.
“The main street program allows main streets to – or downtowns to – follow four main points to help build and improve them,” Bloom said. “One of the points is having an organization and having that funding behind you and, and design standards and all sorts of sorts of different things.”
For 21 years, Bloom said the DHDC has worked to revitalize downtown Hays.
"Our main streets speak volumes about our state and its communities," Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. "We're pleased to see three outstanding communities rejoining Kansas Main Street this year. Strong and vibrant main streets make it clear that Kansas is open for business, and we have outstanding cities and towns where people want to live and where businesses want to invest."
Bloom said having Hays re-admitted to the program is “huge.”
“There's a whole organization that is supporting the revitalization, of downtowns in Kansas,” Bloom said. “What it means for us even though we have a fantastic, beautiful, wonderful downtown, now that we are a designated Mainstreet, again, that opens opportunities for additional grants for additional recognition.”
“It gives us free tools that we can use as an organization,” she continued. “It ties us into the greater national network, and it gives us even more opportunities through that.”
She also called the recognition an “honor.”
“It speaks really, really highly of our downtown and the quality of downtown that we have. … We should be very proud.”
The program is affiliated with the National Main Street Center and offers designated cities training and technical assistance designed to help with efforts to become self-sufficient in downtown revitalization.
"I want to join the Governor and Lieutenant Governor in welcoming these wonderful cities back to the Kansas Main Street program," said Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell. "To those communities that have returned to the program, we are excited to have you and appreciate that you saw the value in the services and technical assistance provides. The state office is here to guide you and support you in your efforts, and we look forward to your success."