The Main Street approach to downtown (or Uptown in Butte) revitalization is based on four major points: Design, Promotion, Organization, and Economic Vitality. They are like the four stones in a fogon de cuatro piedras that contain a fire to cook a balanced meal and provide warmth for the hearth.
DESIGN focuses on enhancing the physical appearance of buildings, streetlights, window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, promotional materials and other elements that convey a visual message about Uptown Butte and contribute to the first impression that it is a clean and safe community. Efforts have included repairing broken windows, removing graffiti, painting exterior facades, and supporting efforts to remove snow and ice from sidewalks in winter and weeds and garbage in warmer months, Most recently, Mainstreet has supported community efforts to replace aging trash cans and install new flower planters on Uptown streets
PROMOTION involves marketing Uptown’s most attractive qualities to shoppers, investors, new businesses, tourists and others. Effective promotion creates a positive image through retail promotional activity, special events and ongoing programs to build positive perceptions of the district. Mainstreet has helped to develop or support several events such as the annual Chinese New Year Parade, St. Patrick’s Day parade, Christmas Stroll, Ice Sculpting Contest, Farmers’ Market, Fourth of July festivities and the event that casts a shadow over all the others, the Montana Folk Festival that has attracted more than 150,000 attendees to Butte each July since 2011.
ORGANIZATION is the work of building a consensus and cooperation among the stakeholders in the district. Many individuals and organizations in the community have a stake in the district’s economic viability:
| Bankers | Local Industries |
| Property Owners | Civic Groups |
| County Officials | Historians and Preservationists |
| Merchants | Schools |
| Butte Residents | Shoppers |
| Professionals | Real Estate Agents |
| Chamber of Commerce | Local Media |
ECONOMIC VITALITY strengthens the existing economic base while diversifying it. Our economic restructuring goals are to help existing Uptown businesses expand, recruit new businesses to augment the existing business base, convert unused space into productive properties, and enhance the competitiveness of Uptown merchants.
By strengthening the Uptown’s economy, communities are able to support ongoing use of historic commercial buildings, preserving unique community assets.
The comprehensive nature of Main Street’s approach is the key to its success. By integrating the four areas into a practical management strategy, the Main Street approach produces fundamental changes in the economic base, putting historic commercial buildings to productive use again.