Main Street America, a reputable organization that leads an inclusive, impact-driven movement, dedicated to re-energizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns as well as neighborhood commercial districts nationwide, has recently partnered with the City of Grambling to help the community plan its re-vitalization and growth.
Toward this effort, the City has hired Amri Warren-Douglas, of Homer, LA, as its part-time Main Street Executive Director. Ms. Warren-Douglas, an entrepreneur and Business Consultant, initially worked with Main Street America through its partnership with the City of Homer.
“I was born and raised in Homer.” Says Ms. Warren-Douglas. “I’m the daughter of a rural entrepreneur that also has a nonprofit. Since the age of 13, I’ve basically been the family’s bookkeeper managing and organizing the nonprofit. I grew a natural skill to that. [As an adult], I moved away and I decided to come back home during the pandemic. I wanted to find a way to utilize my skills [as a Business Consultant], like organizational business support, and developing small businesses.
Ms. Warren-Douglas said after she returned home, she noticed all the improvements that were going on in her hometown and began asking questions. What she found was a group of people who were working on the Homer Historical Cultural District downtown. Through her own non-profit, she was working on the Historical Black District [in Homer]. They decided to come together and combine their ideas.
“They introduced me to Main Street America, where I could use those same tools and skills that they were utilizing in their historic district and the historic district that I was looking for.
[Main Street America] assist us with acquiring grants. They assist us with providing education. So, the main purpose is to ensure that we’re preserving a lot of our historic neighborhood. Ms. Warren-Douglas says she also likes the fact that one of Main Street America’s priorities is in preserving the culture that’s already there and building upon it, instead of creating a new one.
Her job, she says, is to work with the City government and citizens to work out a plan for re-vitalization. “You basically become a community partner and you work with the Main Street District and that’s where I come in… I’m the voice of the people. I’m the Executive Director directing exactly which path we’re going to take and I’m taking in the suggestions of the City Council, the Mayor, and citizens, and I’m putting it in black and white in a plan.”
She went on to say that Grambling is already doing some of the preliminary work that will make it a great candidate to receive the benefits from working with the Main Street program. “There’s a lot of infrastructure foundation things that I’m excited Grambling is doing right now, which will make it eligible to have a Main Street District, a Historical Cultural District, or it may be a Historical Commercial District. I’m not really sure on the avenue that they’re going to take right now because I haven’t been sitting in the meetings as of yet, but being a part of Main Street America, [they] become eligible for the educational resources and guides, like myself, coming in and guiding them to get the district started and also, creating the transformational strategic plan, which will be a citywide plan for any entrepreneur or anyone that wants to be a part of the plan.
When asked to explain how the Main Street program works, she responded,
“So, I come in and I give [a city] three topics that [they] need to focus on. I, then, give them a work plan to go with those three topics.I help them work their way through… My first 30 days, is very important to ask the questions, to get out in the community, to become a familiar face, and get well acquainted with those who also hold the history of Grambling, the city, as well as the university.
She continues, “Because one of the main points and one of our main drivers on why we work is because we talk to the community. We want community input. A part of being an accredited Main Street, you have to show proof of a partnership with your municipality, with your community members, your community leaders, your schools, your parish jurors.
When you are developing these districts, once you have the plan in writing, there are grants that [can be awarded] to the organization or the municipality or the business to complete the application, which comes along with being an actual certified district.
We all know economics is needed to survive, so we want to make sure that we’re creating different cycles where not only the town could benefit and receive capital outlay money, and receive different grants, but we also want to make sure that the small businesses, the local mom and pops, along with our urbanized businesses are being able to benefit from these plans. It is a ton of work, but I’m excited to go through the phases with the City of Grambling.”
When addressing how long it might take for these plans to be realized, she stated, “Some cities achieve the success in three years. You will start seeing some markers in one year. It’s really contingent upon the support and the spirit of the town. I’m there to build upon the spirit that’s there. In many towns, spirit is lost. I have to do a little extra work to help them understand the value of their town and continue to be the advocate to broadcast to the world why this matters.”
Ms. Warren-Douglas says she has to continuously work with the community members. “It is a continuously working plan that has checkpoints. It has quarterly checkpoints.I have to report what is done quarterly to our state office, which reports it ultimately, to our national office to maintain accreditation. As of right now, Grambling is at phase one, at ground zero. We are creating a district… well, actually, we are modifying what’s already there to see what works for the citizens. Then, they will vote on those districts.
Then, we will apply to become an accredited Main Street organization, which will be a part of the Grambling municipality. [After that], we’ll start the process of implementing the plan.”
When asked if there was anything else she wants the community to know, she said,
“As someone who believes in the power of community and preservation of cultural heritage, I was drawn to Main Street America’s mission and values. I am proud to promote an organization that commits to revitalizing and preserving the heart of our communities. I am eager to bring my unique perspective and expertise to the City of Grambling with high hopes to contribute to the continued growth and success of Dear Ole’ Grambling.”
Main Street America was founded in 1980 as the National Main Street Center®, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Over the past 40 years the MSA network has helped to generate over $101 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 335,000 buildings, create 782,000 new jobs, and start 175,000 new businesses in over 2,000 communities.
Citizens can learn more about Main Street America by visiting www.MainStreet.org