Main Street Initiatives a Topic of Discussion at Tonight's BOS Meeting

“Main Street” initiatives will be a prominent topic of discussion at Wednesday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

Selectmen on July 24 will hear a report on the “Connecticut Main Street Final Assessment."

Early the year the town, through the Economic Development Agency, joined the Connecticut Main Street Center. That process included a half-day visit to Collinsville in March of 2013.

At the meeting Kimberly Parsons Whitaker from the CT Main Street Program will provide the overview and field questions from selectmen.

Those who want to read the report prior to the meeting can find it in the Board of Selectmen packet at http://townofcantonct.org/filestorage/120/196/07.24.13_BOS_Packet.pdf

In addition to current needs, conditions and thoughts on what can be improved, the report recommends the town establish an independent “Main Street Partnership.”

As suggested by the Main Street Center, First Selectman Richard Barlow said he agrees the group should be established and not be a town agency in order to allow business owners and other key players who may not live in town, to participate.

Tonight selectmen are also expected to accept a $387,000 Main Street Investment Fund grant from the state of Connecticut.

While some efforts may overlap, that is separate from the Main Street Center Program. (See earlier story here).

As part of the application for the grant, Milone & MacBroom prepared a Collinsville plan free of charge that incorporated suggestions from past studies. The suggestions include way finding signs, pedestrian plazas, streetscape improvements, benches, lighting and more. 

The grant will only fund a portion and ideas need to be prioritized, Barlow said. 

The town, likely selectmen, will decide how the funds are used, Barlow said, but will consider input from others, such as the partnership established under the other program.

“They are not going to dictate how that grant money is going to be used but can certainly have input in it,” he said.