The Dalles Main Street Program

The Dalles Main Street Program employs the Main Street Approach®, developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has been extremely successful all over the country and especially in Oregon. It is a proven, comprehensive approach to historic commercial district revitalization.

This Main Street Approach® is based on a four-point strategy:

--Organization: provides across the board representation that works together to renew downtown, providing stability and long-term effort.

--Promotion: creates excitement downtown with events, and markets an enticing image to shoppers, investors and visitors.

--Design: enhances the attractiveness of the downtown district through building rehabilitation, clean up, banners, landscaping and lighting.

--Economic Restructuring: analyzes current market forces, recruits new businesses, converts unused space and sharpens the competitiveness of traditional merchants.

The Dalles Main Street Program is comprised almost exclusively of volunteers representing local businesses, service providers and government organizations, among others. These volunteers spend time on committees based on the four principles listed above, and share their talents, energy and experience freely for the improvement of downtown The Dalles!

For information on The Dalles Main Street Program or to join the effort, please contact Cooper Whitman at the City of The Dalles!