Main Street Maryland

Main Street Maryland

Are you bored on facebook and need something new to do? Become a fan of frostburgfirst. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/FrostburgFirst/190999902540?v=info&ref=search

Frostburgfirst’s page on Facebook is 598 people strong and packed with tons of information on what Maureen Brewer and others have planned on doing to improve Frostburg’s main street.

All throughout Maryland communities who have main streets are working on preserving and restoring our history. “We have a deep history.” Maureen quoted. Maryland Department of housing and Community Development and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center teamed up to develop the Main Street Four Point Approach for commercial revitalization. The four points are: design, organization, promotion, and economic restructuring. With design they want to enhance the look of historic buildings so they look like they used to. The organization is getting people to participate. When promoting with economic restructuring they want to bring in new business to the town. That is already showing much improvement. “Since 2007 there have been twelve new businesses in Frostburg.” Maureen Brewer said. By strengthening the economics’ they can find ways to expand.

In 2008 Main Street Maryland programs added a fifth point: Clean, Safe, and Green. This was started to get neighborhoods to start the principles of Smart Growth and sustainability. The city officials gave $10,000 to the program. The Frostburg Business & Professional Association to gives $10,000. Frostburg state also participates in this movement by giving $ 5,000 a year for the past three years.

FrostburgFirst has many partnerships. Local business, Allegheny Art council, and Maryland department of business just to name a few. Frostburg puts on many annual events. They have both a fall and spring art walk. Last spring they had a turnout of 200 registered people. In the fall they had 500 participants. “More and more people are coming to Frostburg” quoted Fernando Quijano. “We have more people coming to FSU also; we even have a radio commercial!” Over the summer (June 5^th- August 28^th) there was a Saturday on Broadway event. This was not only a good thing for the people of Frostburg to listen to but gave local bands, primarily bluegrass, and a chance to play for everyone to hear. Cruisin’ Main Street was also a very big turnout this year with more than 800 registered cars, and more not signed up. This year the FSU Block party also had one of its biggest crowds. Last year the Appalachian Festival had 4000 attendants hopefully there will be even more this year. Storybook Holiday had 300 children come last year.

When speaking to Dr. Kara Rogers Thomas who is the head honcho that has been running the Appalachian Festival for the past five years said that it is “A heck of a lot of work to pull this all together.” She is very pleased with the turnout so far. Maureen Brewer is “really proud of the students.” She said that the students not only create businesses like the Main Street book store but students help local businesses thrive.

Amanda Everett