THURMONT,
Md. – Many people will tell you Mayberry doesn’t
exist. Quaint towns with thriving Main Streets are a thing
of the past that only exist in old movies and TV shows …
or in Maryland Main Street Communities like Thurmont, Frederick
and Taneytown.
“Being
a Main Street Community has brought us new stores and shops,”
said Nancy McCormick, Taneytown economic development director.
Maryland
Main Street is a revitalization program created in 1998
by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
The program helps improve the economy, image and appearance
of Maryland’s traditional downtown business districts.
“Main
Street is an avenue to increase grants and visibility for
the whole town of Thurmont,” said Vickie Grinder,
Thurmont’s Main Street manager.
According
to the Maryland DHCD, the Maryland Main Street program,
which now includes 18 communities, has led to $74 million
in investment in those communities and created 400 new businesses
and 1,800 new jobs.
Grinder
said that the process of becoming a Maryland Main Street
Community in 2005 was only the first step. The designation
opened doors for the town, but it also showed other doors
that the town needed to get through for additional opportunities.
“What
it’s done for us is gotten more people to invest in
their properties and upgrade them,” McCormick said.
Grinder
also points out that the revitalization affects the entire
town, not just the Main Street area.
“Some
grants are just for the designated Main Street, but others
are for any business in town. You just have to know where
to find them and that’s what being a Main Street can
help you do,” Grinder said.
Since
becoming a Main Street Community in 2005, Thurmont has gotten
grants to help refurbish the old trolley trail, restore
the Thurmont Trolley, improve building facades, get street
signage, produce a brochure and purse a town marketing study.
“It’s
been a slow process but we’re starting to reap the
benefits,” Grinder said. “When you add it all
together, you’re looking at over $200,000 it has brought
to the community.”
Emmitsburg
was once a part of the program, but dropped out. Now Mayor
James Hoover says there is some interest in becoming part
of the program again, but the state hasn’t been forthcoming
with answers to questions from the town.
“The
state has not added any Main Streets in 2006 or 2007 and
there are no plans to add any in 2008,” said
Grinder.
Hoover
said he would like to get either Grinder or McCormick or
both to come and speak to the town commissioners about the
process of becoming a Main Street Community.
