The idea behind our network is simple: we’re connecting everyone working on behalf of Main Streets, downtowns, and neighborhood commercial centers across Rhode Island to make it easier for all of us to strengthen our places, build community and support our small businesses. Regular opportunities to interact with each other will facilitate the sharing of ideas, inspiration and knowledge, and allow for collective development of solutions to common challenges. There’s no cost to participate and all are welcome – all that’s asked for is your interest and active participation.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
March 2025 Main Street RI NETWORK MEETING:
Discussion Topic: Making Our Case for Main Street Funding
Thursday March 6 @12pm online via Zoom
Anyone working on behalf of a RI Main Street district is invited to join us for the first Main Street RI Network meeting of 2025!
FREE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
However you approach your work – as neighbors, merchants, a chamber, a municipality, or something else – we share the same struggle to find funding to make the Main Street magic happen. Since fundraising requires communicating the value of the project at hand, this conversation will focus on strengthening our case to different possible funders.
Note: this is a conversation, not a presentation, so please come prepared to share your questions, challenges, stories, and ideas! Here are some topics to think about:
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Where or how have you already been successful in raising funds for your Main Street organization or project?
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Who are potential stakeholders in your work and which of them might have access or connections to possible funding?
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What arguments and evidence will be most persuasive with different possible funders?
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What longer term funding strategies have you already been considering?
We know we can’t answer all of the questions in one hour (!) but let’s get this conversation started, and we’ll surely all come away with some fresh perspectives and new ideas to inspire investment in RI’s Main Streets.
Monthly Roundtable Discussion
Every month we explore a different Main Street related topic at our free and virtual Main Street Roundtable series. These online lunch-hour discussions are an opportunity to hear from experts to both inspire our Main Street work and help as we navigate challenges.
Learn about our Next Roundtable >
NETWORK OFFERINGS
NETWORK MEETINGS
We’re excited to launch bi-monthly network meetings for any individual or organization working on behalf of a Rhode Island Main Street district. For now, in the coming year four of the meetings will be virtual and two will take place in person in the form of a Main Street RI “field trip” where we’ll see some Main Street work in action. We’ll also designate a meet-up location so conversations can continue informally at a local restaurant or bar after the meeting.
Each meeting will highlight a different community from the Network with assistance from Main Street RI staff. We seek to learn from each community’s experience while also providing an opportunity for the “hosts” to collect input, brainstorm ideas, and/or discuss challenges with a supportive group of peers. If you’re interested in “hosting” a meeting, please let us know!
We are planning the first meeting for February 2025. Dates, times, locations, and links will be distributed through the Main Street RI newsletter (see below.)
MONTHLY ROUNDTABLE SERIES
There’s so much to know about when it comes to Main Streets! Each month we’ll dig into a different Main Street related topic at our virtual Main Street Roundtable series. These online lunch-hour discussions are an opportunity to hear from experts to both inspire our Main Street work and help as we navigate challenges. You can register for our next Roundtable event and see an archive of past Roundtables here.
SHARING RESOURCES
We’re working on building out resources around topics related to your Main Street goals. You can see what we’ve got so far, organized by topic here but keep checking back in frequently as we hope to build out these pages over time with more examples and tools. Have something to share? Please send it to us!
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Every month we send out online newsletters highlighting upcoming Roundtables, Network Meetings, newly added resources, and participant events, accomplishments and more. If you aren’t signed up, you should be! Sign up here.
UNCONFERENCE EVENT
In the fall of 2025 we look forward to hosting our inaugural UNCONFERENCE event that will bring together members of Main Street communities from around the state to propose and lead participatory conversations about improving Rhode Island’s commercial districts. You won’t want to miss it!
LISTSERVE
COMING SOON! We anticipate creating a listserve as a means for Main Street RI Leaders to communicate more regularly with each other, ask questions, share opportunities, resources, ideas, questions etc. Stay Tuned!
