Main Street, Kansas is a self-help economic revitalization program.  It provides technical assistance such as management training, consultation visits, local program evaluation, design assistance and other technical support.  It is an incremental program designed to start with small, incremental community improvements.  Over time, these small projects add up to a healthy, revitalized downtown.  The downtown is the "heart" of the community.  As the heart is strengthened, so is the community.

There are economic development grant monies available through the Main Street Program that are not available otherwise.

Who Benefits from the Main Street Program?

Currently, there are 23 Main Street communities throughout Kansas who are improving the economic stability and appearance of their historic downtown business districts.  Downtown Augusta, Inc., along with the rest of these main street towns, are supporting the revitalization effort because they all agree that a healthy downtown will:

Build a positive image.

Preserve the historic fabric of the community.

Provide a point of focus and stability.

Return the downtown to the "core" of the community.

Attract new businesses, create jobs and strengthen retail/service markets.

Stabilize and improve the tax base.

Attract industrial development.

In addition to retail trade and historical preservation, the program also addresses issues such as available space for upper-story living quarters to bolster downtown shopping.

About Us

In July 2002, Augusta was one of only two Kansas communities to receive the designation of being a Main Street Kansas community.

Funded entirely be memberships, Downtown Augusta, Inc., a 501 c(6) non-profit organization, is part of the National Trust Main Street Center, a program developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

DAI operates under the Main Street Approach, which is designed to revitalize the downtown area as a viable marketplace and the center of community activity.

Utilizing this approach, DAI consists of a Board of Directors and the four Main Street committees: Design, Promotion, Economic Restructuring and Organization.

A formal market analysis developed by Hyatt-Palma for Downtown Augusta, Inc. provides action objectives that will guide the program in fulfilling its vision.  Funding for the program must come from local investment through government grants and private fundraising.  No additional local taxation is required.

Participation in DAI is strictly on a volunteer basis.