On March 25th, 2009, Berwyn Main Street joined Governor Pat Quinn at the state capitol for the largest Main Street Day rally event in history. In attendance were Berwyn Main Street Board President Michele Skryd and Dario Solano, Executive Director; Alma Ortiz (Harris Bank), board member; Patricia Caraballo and Josy Caraballo (American Career College of Hair Design) committee members; and Monica Linares (Harris Bank), committee member. At the rally, Quinn commended communities for their assistance in hosting the March 2009 National Main Streets Conference in Chicago. More than 1,600 attended the conference from across the nation and six countries.
State representatives and senators from many of Illinois’ more than 60 Main Street communities attended the rally and activities during the day. Main Street communities showcased their successes with displays and exhibits throughout the Capitol. Berwyn's table showcased pictures of Cermak Road projects, chocolate from Old Fashion Candies, membership brochures and projected images from the Houby Festival and Miracle on 22nd Street. Berwyn Main Street representatives also met the evening of March 24th for a networking dinner at the Executive Mansion.
Under Governor Quinn’s leadership, Illinois Main Street has grown to become the fourth largest Main Street program in the nation. Illinois Main Street represents one of the state's most effective public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal. Since its inception, designated communities have reported net gains of more than 1,600 new downtown businesses and created more than 6,000 new full and part-time jobs. The Main Street program has spurred the reinvestment of more than $575 million in Main Street downtowns.
Illinois is one of 40 states participating in the National Main Street program, administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
For more information about the Illinois Main Street program, please visit: www.IllinoisMainStreet.org.
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