MainStreet of Fremont has been selected as one of 30 communities nationwide, including Puerto Rico, to participate in Main Street America’s Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Rural Communities Pilot Program, supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, in partnership with Forward Cities.
This program aims to engage, activate, and empower entrepreneurial talent in rural communities so that everyone sees themselves reflected on their
Main Street. Participants will identify barriers preventing entrepreneurs from starting or growing local businesses and develop action items to address them.
Along with joining a cohort of national thought leaders and partners, communities will receive a $5,000 seed grant and $1,500 toward professional development certification with the International Economic Development Council. There is also an opportunity for communities to receive additional funding as the program expands.
The purpose of MainStreet of Fremont is to encourage, promote, and support downtown Fremont’s economic vitality, as well as the image
and appearance of downtown.
“This grant marks a pivotal moment for MainStreet of Fremont and our community. It signifies a commitment to cultivating an environment where local businesses can thrive, fostering economic growth, and preserving our community’s unique character,” MainStreet Executive Director Lainey Paquette said. “We are excited for this opportunity to partner with Main Street America, local entrepreneurs, and local organizations that will help us along on this journey.”
Main Street America will work closely with the Main Street director in each of the selected communities to gain insight into the state of small business on the ground. Members from Main Street America will visit each community and provide virtual programming support for selected communities to implement ecosystem building practices for rural communities and entrepreneurs. Officials will also offer a ‘train-the-trainer’ process for coordinating
programs to expand the ecosystem-building approach to other Main Street programs within the state or region.
“Holistic, place-based, equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems offer a promising path forward for rural communities that need new local businesses to open and old businesses to thrive,” MSA’s Chief Program Officer Matt Wagner said. “However, much of the current work on equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem development nationally is focused on large cities. There is a need to deliver these services to rural communities, and Main Street America is uniquely positioned to address that need in partnership with its coordinating programs.”
Over the next few months, MainStreet of Fremont will be working to collect feedback from local entrepreneurs and small business owners through an anonymous survey. The feedback collected in this survey will help inform the growth and expansion of support for local entrepreneurs in Fremont.
If you are a local entrepreneur, you are welcome to fill out the survey here.
