A crowd of 100 people attended the Mainstreet Mexico Town Hall meeting held lastTuesday afternoon at The Ballroom at Homestead Hearth. The meeting was organized by Mexico Economic Development Director Amy O’Brien and local members of the newly formed Mainstreet Mexico Board.

Last fall, the City of Mexico was approved by the Missouri Main Street Program for a grant to help the city set up its own Main Street program.

The premise behind the Mainstreet Mexico project is to appreciate the value of community and create an environment for downtown to prosper and grow. The Town Hall’s community-led approach brought together residents with unique experiences and backgrounds to plan for the future of Mexico.

Attendees at Tuesday’s meeting heard a presentation from Missouri Mainstreet representatives and divided into groups to gain insight in four areas: economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.

Feedback was offered about the importance of downtown Mexico, supporting local independent businesses, creating a tourist destination, and investing in healthy infrastructure.

The national Mainstreet project started in the 1980s when small towns reached out to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help save historic buildings in small towns. The goals of the Mainstreet project include historic preservation, commercial development, and economic development.

There are currently 180 Main Street communities in Missouri, tallying over $1 million in public and private investment since 2006. The program creates new jobs, saves historic buildings, and supports new business ventures.

Individuals interested in volunteer opportunities for the downtown revitalization project can reach out to members of the Mexico Mainstreet Board or the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce.