Latest news with #ErinBarnes
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Downtown Joplin Alliance designated an accredited Main Street America program
The Downtown Joplin Alliance has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America program. Lori Haun, executive director of the DJA, said in a statement: 'Being an Accredited Main Street program enables DJA to benefit from a nationwide coalition of Main Streets, consultants and mentors with an ever-growing wealth of best practices and knowledge at their disposal. This guidance allows for us to maintain steady progression and growth, even in chaotic times.' Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation — affiliate and accredited. To quality for accredited status — Main Street America's top designation tier—communities must show a track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach in six areas: broad-based community commitment to revitalization, inclusive leadership and organizational capacity, diversified funding and sustainable program operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based economic development, and demonstrated impact and results. Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America, said in a statement: 'Their tireless efforts show what's possible when engaged leaders work together to shape places that reflect the people they serve. The continued impact of our network shows that the Main Street movement remains a powerful force for positive transformation.' Downtown Joplin Alliance's performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization's personnel and board of directors, and Missouri Main Street Connection, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet national community evaluation standards. In 2024, Downtown Joplin had nearly 350 housing units, with a 96% occupancy rate, with 200 additional units in development. Joplin's downtown is home to more than 500 businesses employing more than 5,000 people, many based in one of the 249 historic buildings in the district. Last year, Downtown Joplin Alliance accrued nearly 5,400 volunteer hours and was awarded $124,000 in grant funds. Last year, Main Street America programs generated $7.65 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,324 new businesses, facilitated the creation of 33,835 new jobs, rehabilitated 10,126 historic buildings, and logged 1.9 million volunteer hours.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
An Iowa town was named one of the country's best main streets. How did it win the award?
Iowa is home to one of the best main streets in the United States. Jefferson, Iowa, was honored with one of the 2025 Great American Main Street Awards, which recognizes communities for "preservation-based commercial district revitalization." Only three cities were selected for the award by a national jury of community preservation professionals, according to American Main Street Awards. 'Jefferson Matters exemplifies the power of creative and community-driven solutions,' said Erin Barnes, President and CEO at Main Street America. 'By leveraging public art as a tool for economic growth, they have transformed downtown Jefferson into a beautiful and thriving Main Street that celebrates both its history and its future. Their innovative direction demonstrates the impact of the Main Street Approach in fostering vibrant communities.' The city of Jefferson received the award for its "significant" investments in its public arts programs, according to Main Street America. Since 2012, Jefferson Matters has invested $24 million to rehabilitate its downtown, according to the Iowa Economic Development Authority. That investment has led to 45 new businesses and renovations to more than 100 buildings. For example, the rooftops of several buildings downtown have installed art displays that can be seen from the top of the Mahanay Bell Tower. The bell tower is on the corner of the courthouse square in downtown Jefferson. "Our community, board, and volunteers have embraced the idea that public art is more than just decoration—it is a driver of economic growth, a source of civic pride, and a way to bring people together," said Matt Wetrich, the executive director of Jefferson Matters, in an interview for Main Streets America. Jefferson is a town of 4,100 people in central Iowa. It is possibly best known for the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. It is a 14-story tower where visitors can ride a glass elevator up 120 feet to the observation deck. Every year, Jefferson hosts the Bell Tower Festival, which features vendors, a carnival and a street dance. The three-day event also has a parade and sports tournaments. Jefferson is one of 14 central Iowa communities connected by the Raccoon River Valley Trail. The trail is the longest paved loop in the nation, totaling 72 miles within 89 miles of recreational trailers, according to its website. Jefferson is the county seat of Green County. It is just over an hour northwest of Des Moines and is roughly halfway between Boone and Carroll on U.S. Highway 30. Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@ or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa town named one of the best main streets in US. How did it win?
Associated Press
25-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
T‑Mobile Reaches $16 Million in Funding for Hometown Grants, Strengthening Communities Nationwide
BELLEVUE, Wash., March 25, 2025 /3BL/ - T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced its latest 25 Hometown Grant recipients, each set to receive up to $50,000 in funding from T-Mobile to support local development projects to revitalize their communities. Since kicking off its five-year commitment to small towns and rural communities in April 2021, the Un-carrier has provided more than $16 million in Hometown Grants to 375 communities across 48 states and Puerto Rico. Hometown Grants has sparked more than 150,000 volunteer hours, bringing people together to uplift their communities in big ways. 'When we started Hometown Grants nearly four years ago, we knew T-Mobile could make a real difference in small towns across the country, but the impact has exceeded all expectations,' said Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile Consumer Group. 'With this latest round of grants, communities will be able to fund everything from new fire hose technology to expanded food pantry space — creating important, life-changing improvements for the people who call these towns home.' Here are the next 25 Hometown Grant recipients and their projects: T-Mobile teams up with Main Street America — a nonprofit organization that works to advance shared prosperity, create resilient economies and improve quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation — to bring Hometown Grants to life. Grant applications are reviewed based on their level of detail, community impact, feasibility and other considerations. 'T-Mobile's Hometown Grants program is bringing critical resources to small towns and rural communities across America,' said Erin Barnes, President and CEO, Main Street America. 'These investments are transforming local landscapes and creating new opportunities for growth and connection.' T-Mobile's Commitment to Championing Rural Communities T-Mobile's Hometown Grants commitment goes beyond community development programs. The Un-carrier has awarded nearly $4 million to small businesses through Hometown Grants to support projects like revitalizing farmers markets, launching business incubators and improving main streets. Beyond Hometown Grants, T-Mobile is focused on many initiatives to make sure no community, big or small, gets left behind. The Un-carrier's Project 10Million offers free internet connectivity and mobile hotspots to eligible student households to help close the digital divide. And T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights is a competition that's gearing up for its second year to give one deserving high school a football field makeover valued at $2 million. Learn more about Friday Night 5G Lights and pre-register now for the next round at As the country's largest and fastest 5G network, T-Mobile is all about small towns and rural areas. Plus, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Business Internet give homes and businesses across the country access to reliable and affordable broadband options. And for those in even the most rural areas, T-Mobile Starlink is on a mission to eliminate mobile dead zones in areas unreachable by traditional cell towers. For more information about T-Mobile's commitment to small towns, visit And to see how Hometown Grants are creating change, go here. Register for the free T-Mobile Starlink Beta here. Follow @TMobileNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay up to date with the latest company news. # # # About Main Street America Main Street America leads a collaborative movement with partners and grassroots leaders that advances shared prosperity, creates resilient economies, and improves quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the country. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has helped to build economic power in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through our signature Main Street Approach™ framework. Founded as the National Main Street Center® in 1980, Main Street America has helped to generate over $107.62 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 335,675 buildings, create 782,059 new jobs, and start 175,323 new businesses in over 2,000 communities. Learn more about Main Street America here. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Not available in all areas. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. Project 10Million: Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup. Fastest based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data of national Speed Score results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for 2H 2024. See T-Mobile Starlink details at Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission. See 5G device, coverage, & access details at
