Hancock Main Steet Program

Bay-Waveland Main Street is a member of the Mississippi Main Street Association working together to encourage and promote downtown development through economic restructuring, promotions and design. The national Main Street program is managed by the National Trust.  It utilizes a “Four Point Approach” as a strategy for success in community-based revitalization efforts.   The four elements of Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion and Organization are combined to address each commercial district’s needs. Local leaders meet to discuss local coordination of the Main Street Program According to the program’s website: Organization involves getting everyone working toward the same goal… to implement a Main Street revitalization program. Promotion sells a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district.  Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets… conveys a positive visual message about the commercial district and what it has to offer. Economic Restructuring strengthens a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base. The program is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face traditional business districts.  The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace.