[OMS_MANAGERS] MAIN STREET MATTERS

[Peggy Moretti]

Dear Main Street Colleagues,



As you heard during the OMS conference in McMinnville, Restore Oregon and a coalition of leaders from around the state are working to pass legislation that creates a Historic Rehabilitation Incentive (HRI) to restore the iconic but often deteriorating buildings in our historic downtowns.  I'm writing because we won't succeed without the active support of the Oregon Main Street membership.

The Revitalize Main Street Act would authorize an HRI in the form of a 25% rebate for the rehabilitation of historic commercial buildings - stores, hotels, theaters, apartments, factories, mills, etc.  Think of the impact!  But despite the dividends it would pay in the form of new jobs, income and property taxes, cultural tourism, business incubation, and seismic safety, we have an uphill battle for passage.

Lots of programs are competing for funding in the upcoming state budget.  Our best chance to pass the Revitalize Main Street Act depends on Oregon's Main Street members raising your voices and calling for support in a way that legislators cannot ignore.


As the enclosed data sheet shows, 35 other states are boosting private investment and stimulating local economies through a state HRI.  Its time Oregon did the same!  If you agree that it's time the state invested a little to help Main Street, please participate in our MAIN STREET MATTERS campaign.



It's simple.  The only materials you need are a camera that takes good pictures, an office computer and printer, some plain paper and a couple postage stamps:



1.      Print out multiple copies of the attached signs as large as you can.  They say "MAIN STREET MATTERS" and "PASS THE REVITALIZE MAIN STREET ACT."



2.      Gather up your wonderful Main Street members/friends/employees in front of one of the Main Street buildings that needs financial help to be restored.  Its most effective if the building has some interesting character but shows evidence of needing to be rehabbed.  You could also position people in the street/angled in a way to show multiple storefronts or buildings.



3.      Snuggle in tight, holding your signs so they can be seen, and say Cheese!



4.      Email the photos (high resolution/large size) back to me along with the name of the building, its address, and a short description of what sort of rehab it needs and the impact it could have.  Restore Oregon will use the photos in our lobbying efforts.  A picture speaks a thousand words!



LATER, AFTER JANUARY 1ST, we'll ask you to send a letter to your state Senator and Representative (after January 1st) with a copy of your photo.



Finally, if you haven't already, please endorse the Revitalize Main Street Act<http://restoreoregon.org/rehab-tax-incentive/>.  Send me a letter or just go to our web page.



Please email me your MAIN STREET MATTERS photos no later than DECEMBER 1st.   Call or email with any questions.  Passing the Revitalize Main Street Act may be the single most important thing we do to bring new life to Oregon's historic downtowns.



Thank you for your help!



[cid:image007.png at 01CFF9C7.EF6DC3B0]
Peggy Moretti
Executive Director
[cid:image008.jpg at 01CFF9C7.EF6DC3B0]<http://www.restoreoregon.org/>
24 NW First Avenue, Suite 274 | Portland, OR  97209
503 243-1923
peggym at RestoreOregon.org<mailto:peggym at RestoreOregon.org>
Visit our NEWSROOM<http://restoreoregon.org/news/> for preservation stories from around Oregon.
[cid:image009.png at 01CFF9C7.EF6DC3B0]<https://www.facebook.com/RestoreOregon?v=wall&viewas=0>


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