The City Center Partnership works to promote collaboration and foster investment in the City Center to attract and support the growth of a diverse array of business, customers, visitors and residents to the region. To assist in fulfilling this mission, the City Center Partnership and it’s associated geography (see map below) is a designated Main Street district. The Main Street district designation is part of the City Center Partnership’s national accreditation as a member of the Main Street America program.
The Main Street America program is offering grants to support brick-and-mortar small businesses in designated Main Street districts as they work to adapt to COVID-19 and prepare for the next phases of reopening across the country, while also helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic commercial corridors. Grants of $5,000 to $10,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis.
In order to be eligible for participation, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- The applicant must be located in an Accredited or Affiliate Main Street America community or UrbanMain commercial corridor. This list is available here.
- The applicant must be a for-profit business. 501c3 and 501c6 entities are not eligible. The applicant must be a business entity in good standing in the state in which it was formed and the state in which it does business.
- The applicant must operate a “brick and mortar” storefront located in an older or historic downtown or neighborhood commercial district.
- The applicant must employ less than 20 full time employees.
- The applicant must be an owner of the business.
- The applicant must be at least age 18 years or older.
Eligible grant expenses include but are not limited to:
- Physical improvements to business space to meet relevant reopening requirements implemented because of COVID-19
- Equipment to comply with public health and safety guidelines (i.e., touchless payment methods, automatic door open sensors, or disposable menus)
- Fees associated with expanding the business to e-commerce sales
- Other professional services, such as business plan modifications
- Rent, payroll, and other operating expenses
Applications will open at 12pm EST/ 11am CST on Thursday, January 21 and continue to be accepted through Thursday, January 28 at 7:59pm EST/ 6:59pm CST. The application and additional information can be found here: https://www.mainstreet.org/howwecanhelp/brother
Our entire team at Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. works each day to bring value to our members and drive increased vitality to the Greater Mankato region. To ensure that we’re effectively updating our partners and the community on our work, we revamped our annual report. Instead of a once-a-year 40+ page document, we’ve transitioned to a quarterly report in a new, condensed infographic layout. This has allowed us to streamline and considerably reduce staff time as well as printing costs all while making the content easier to digest, more immediate, and more impactful. I invite you to take a look at our 
Jim Santori is the New Business Development Director at 
January is full of fresh starts, resolutions, new energy and motivation. For us at Greater Mankato Growth, the month is filled with work on new membership items, from ordering and mailings new clings and plaques to display at your business to changing and updating website information and printed materials. Others here are working on event planning, public policy priorities, business development and so much more. But, one of our most favorite things each January is when we get to honor individuals who helped make where we are today possible. 
nce Megan Flanagan has been selected as our Director of the City Center Partnership. She joins the Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. team with more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit and government sector and a portfolio of skills required to lead, facilitate and manage the business of community based, volunteer organizations. 
Greater Mankato Growth Blog 