Richmond Main Street is proud to join the California Main Main Street Alliance (CAMSA), Small Business Majority, and our sister Main Street communities throughout the state in advocating for collaboration with elected officials to provide rapid comprehensive, inclusive, and equitable support of small businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The Main Street Approach, which articulates a focused path to revitalizing a downtown or commercial district’s economy, has transformed communities for and by residents for nearly 40 years and will be pivotal in helping our communities recover and move forward in the coming months. Dollar for dollar, Main Street has proven itself to be one of the most impactful, cost-effective community revitalization models in the country. The COVID-19 crisis requires that communities evaluate and reassess strengths, weaknesses, and existing assets that are crucial to helping our commercial districts recover. The effects of the pandemic are already apparent. CAMSA and its members are dedicated to the economic recovery and vitality of our small businesses and commercial districts.

In this time of crisis, we need the collaboration of the nonprofit community, the business community, and government. We respectfully call on local, state, and national elected officials to work with the leaders of CAMSA and the nonprofit community to address this need for collaboration and to assist our collective response efforts. We stand ready to help in this collaboration and invite our elected officials to join us.

READ THE FULL LETTER HERE