Marketing Coordinator, Hannah MacDonald (HLM): If you just want to start by introducing yourself and the organization, and your title within the organization.
BOUDREAUX President, Heather Mitchell (HM): I am Heather Mitchell, and I am Board Chair of the Main Street District.
HLM: What is the Main Street District?
HM: The Main Street District is the nonprofit organization that manages the 36 block Business Improvement District that’s centered on Main Street in downtown Columbia. They serve the property owners in the district by promoting clean and safe programs, economic vitality, and the culture and spirit of the district to make this Main Street District a destination.
HLM: And how did you become involved in the Main Street District?
HM: The economic vitality of the district has always been super important to us as architects who practice in the city and want the core in the heart of our city to be vibrant– especially as being committed to the district in many ways, first as a business and property owner in the district, and then more recently as a resident of the district living on Main Street.
I got involved with and invited to join the board about five years ago now and I’m currently on my second term. So, I was on the Executive Committee for three years and served as secretary and then stepped into the role as chair about a year and a half ago. I have about a year and a half left on my term.
HLM: You mentioned that you served multiple roles, so what does the board set up look like for Main Street District? Did you get any training for your roles? Or was it something you just kind of stepped into?
HM: Yes! The board is made up of property owners and non-profit organizations and representatives from both city and county government. It seeks to be diverse and represent property owners of different sizes and types in the district, as well as the interest of their merchants in the district.
And yes, there is board orientation and training for all the board members as they come on to the board early on.
HLM: So, in working as an architect, but then also being a resident of Main Street you wanted to become involved. Are there any benefits for serving the Main Street District in addition to being a part of the community? What do you get out of it and what? What do you think the community gets out of it?
HM: So for me, both personally and professionally, being part of the Main Street District board is a way to keep connected with all of the issues, events, opportunities– energy of what’s happening in the district.
It’s also a way to give back and support the organization that is making the Main Street District a great place for us to have our office.
It makes it safe for our employees who work in the district. The Yellow Shirts are always a source of support whenever we need them.
The Main Street District seeks to be a resource and a voice for the business community in the district, so it’s a great opportunity to interact with local officials and make sure that what the Main Street District is doing is aligned with the overall goals of the city as well.
HLM: What type of programs or events does Main Street District offer if there is any?
HM: Main Street District helps promote and support events that other groups organize, so they don’t actually organize any events themselves.
They just really amplify and then provide the clean and safe support. So, for example, every Saturday morning at Soda City, the Yellow Shirts set up the barriers.
They’re there to help the merchants and help anybody who needs anything. They help clean up afterwards. That type of thing.
And similar for any festivals and events that happen on Main Street or in Boyd Plaza or elsewhere in the district. For example, Jubilee, that Historic Columbia hosts, we help provide additional support.
And the Yellow Shirts have also expanded their services based on additional funding provided by the city into North Main, and they helped you know, support the Cottontown Art Crawl that just happened a couple weekends ago
HLM: Okay, so it’s really about outreach within the community. It’s less “this is a Main Street District event” and it’s more “let’s support what’s going on.”
HM: Right exactly. The Main Street District does not have it as a goal or as a mission to plan or organize events.
HLM: Gotcha! What would you say you’re most proud of over your tenure in Main St.
District? It could be in any of your previous roles or events you’ve supported or anything like that.
HM: Let me think about that a second.
HLM: Of course!
HM: Let’s see. We’re working on now shepherding our strategic plan. We have a three-year strategic plan that guides the organization. So, we’ve been working on shaping that in collaboration with the city.
So, really proud of those initiatives which include updating our mission and updating the website.
So I think just that effort and how the community has come together and how much participation and input and really the momentum and energy that’s happening in the District currently. Certainly, that’s not a result of me being Chair, but I’m really proud and excited to be a part of that and to help capitalize on that as we build the strategic plan that’s going to guide the organization for the next three years.
HLM: Yeah, that’s really exciting and definitely something to be proud of, even if it’s not something you’re doing directly.
Lastly, is there anything else you want to add about the Main Street District, your service there, or within the community?
HM: I think it’s maybe just an excitement about the future Finley Park—it borders the district, and that area gets kind of overhauled once the park gets completed.
There’s new development happening in the northeastern edge of the district. So, I think there’s– You know, the energy the students bring.
The continued redevelopment of some of the historic buildings in the historic district that Main Street is a part of, and I just think all of those things are things that have been very positive and examples of the momentum that continues to build.
Another thing that I would be proud of and excited about is that Main Street District really sees itself as the heart of the city and therefore a connector between other districts. And so, I think working in collaboration with the Vista with five points with North Main is also very exciting because, you know, “the rising tide lifts all boats” type thing. There’s just a lot of good energy and the more that the various districts in the city are successful, the more successful everybody is together.
Learn more about Columbia’s Main Street District here: https://mainstcolasc.com/
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