Goal: Salem Main Streets (SMS) goal is the revitalization of downtown Salem as a vibrant year-round retail, dining and cultural destination through business recruitment, retention and the promotion of downtown Salem.

History: With the support of Mayor Driscoll, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, the Salem Partnership, and the support of financial institutions and real estate companies/ developers, Salem Main Streets is actively involved in helping Salem reach its potential. Salem Main Streets was founded in 2001 by the City of Salem and a coalition of downtown businesses and area residents. It is modeled after the highly successful community revitalization program developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Purpose: A downtown reflects how the community sees itself - a critical factor in business retention and recruitment efforts. The downtown provides a significant portion of the community's tax base, and is an indispensable shopping and service center, as well as the historic core of the city. It represents a vast amount of public and private investment, City Hall, the Court complex, heritage destinations, major tourist draws, a working waterfront and marina's, and most importantly, provides a sense of community
and place. The Salem Chamber of Commerce and Salem Main Streets will work closely together to implement the recommendations put forward by the 2007 Salem Retail Market Study and Action Plan (by Karl F. Seidman Consulting Services).

Businesses: SMS is focused on supporting existing businesses and bringing new businesses into the downtown. If you would like more information or assistance on relocating your business to downtown Salem, contact Jennifer Bell, Salem Main Street Manager (salemmainstreets@salem-chamber.org or 978.744.0004 x15)

Events: SMS works closely with the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem on events in the downtown. If you would like assistance with holding an event downtown or would like to volunteer to help with downtown events contact Salem Main Streets. SMS is involved with the Heritage Days Ice Cream Festival and Salem So Sweet among other events.

About: Salem Main Streets is a 501c3 charitable educational non-profit organization which adheres to the Main Streets Four Point Approach™.

Special Projects: This year SMS introduced an extremely successful reusable tote bag to Salem with the theme of "In Salem Green is the New Black." This environmentally friendly program reduced the amount of plastic waste in the city, provided visitors and residents alike with a great souvenir bag for only $2. Over 7,000 bags were distributed and 40 downtown businesses participated in the program.

SMS with the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem conducted a very successful Visitor Information program which assisted approximately 20,000 visitors. Volunteers donated over 400 hours to serve at a downtown booth on weekends in October and on Halloween. Other volunteers canvassed the downtown helping visitors find their way to attractions, shops and restaurants. They greeted visitors with maps and events information around town and as they exited the MBTA train.

Salem Main Streets Committees and Stakeholders

The Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a comprehensive strategy created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that is tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. It encompasses work in four distinct areas - Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion, and Organization - that are combined to address all of the downtown Salem's needs.

Design Committee - Improving the physical appearance of the downtown and advocating for the improvement, historic preservation and re-use of existing buildings and architecture. Design improvements include buildings, streets, sidewalks, signs, parking, and all other aspects of the physical environment. (e.g. beautification, signage, parking)

Organization Committee - Building collaborative partnerships between a broad range of groups, organizations and constituents who need to be involved in the downtown's revitalization. (e.g. volunteer recruitment, website, newsletter, press releases)

Promotion Committee - Changing people's attitudes toward downtown Salem and marketing the district to residents, investors, visitors and others. (e.g. event planning, marketing)

Economic Restructuring Committee - Studying and strengthening the downtown's economic base and working to gradually expand it by helping existing businesses become stronger. (e.g. supporting existing businesses, business recruitment)

Contact Information:

Jennifer Bell, Salem Main Street Manager, 265 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970, salemmainstreets@salem-chamber.org, 978.744.0004 x15 or www.salemmainstreets.org (under construction).

Salem Main Streets

is made possible by the generous contributions of:

Beverly Cooperative Bank
Broadfield Properties
Century Bank
Danvers Bank
DeIulis Brothers Construction
Eastern Bank
Marley Properties
RCG
Salem Chamber of Commerce
Salem Five
Salem State College
Sovereign Bank

and

The City of Salem, Mayor Kimberley Driscoll
(Funded in part by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development)