Downtown Lebanon gets first evaluation by state program

Visitors from Main Street America and Missouri Main Street Connection visited Lebanon’s downtown on Monday to evaluate its development progress since the district joined the program, according to the business district’s press release. The seven-hour assessment was Downtown’s first formal evaluation to assess the district’s progress since joining the Main Street program in 2020.“This visit is a major step forward for Downtown Lebanon,” said Executive Director Sarah Angst in the release. “It allows us to receive expert feedback on our progress and identify new opportunities to enhance our historic district.” Main Street America is a national nonprofit network that collaborates with partners and grassroots leaders to develop and preserve neighborhood commercial districts and downtowns, according to their website. The program is a statewide nonprofit partner of Main Street America. Main Street America’s network consists of coordinating programs like MMSC that provide training and support to Main Street communities. Lebanon joined the MMSC program after applying for and being awarded the Community Empowerment Grant in 2020, according to a MMSC 2022 Revitalization Awards press release in 2022. The press release noted that the assessment consisted of a walking tour of the district, meeting with the nonprofit’s Board of Directors, Main Street staff and city officials, discussions with committee chairs to assess their progress, and a review session where the observers provided their thoughts and recommendations. Angst later said while the evaluation results would come in a later MMSC press release, Downtown Lebanon would be upgraded from an affiliate to an associate program, which comes with additional benefits and support. “We’re excited to take their recommendations and continue building a downtown that serves as a hub of commerce, culture, and community pride,” Angst continued. For more on this story, see Wednesday's LCR.