CAPE TO BE SITE OF DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION MEETINGS

Representatives from 11 communities throughout Missouri will converge on Cape Girardeau next week to discuss the latest practices and techniques to revitalize downtown business districts.

Main Street managers from Washington, Warrensburg, Seedily, Nevada, Mountain Grove, Lee's Summit, Joplin, Clinton, Clarksville, Carthage and Branson will hold a one-day session here Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to learn downtown revitalization techniques and share information about individual efforts," said Randy Gray, coordinator of the Missouri Main Street program, part of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Gray will attend the meeting.

Jean Ann Mathews, director of Mountain Grove's Downtown Association, will present a market analysis project of her town. The downtown managers also will have a chance to tour downtown Cape Girardeau.

Missouri Main Street managers also will attend a "Bringing Life Back to Downtown" workshop Feb. 18. It is a daylong seminar on using historic tax credits. The workshop is sponsored by the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservations, Old Town Cape Inc., Missouri Downtown Association and the Southeast Missouri State University department of history-historic preservation.

Other sponsors include National Trust for Historic Preservation, Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Downtown St. Louis Partnership Inc., and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Cape Girardeau's Old Town Cape group recently filed application with the Missouri Main Street Program for Main Street status. Two towns will be selected for participation probably within the next week.

Old Town Cape will participate in the two-day program next week. Old Town Cape and the Downtown Merchants Association will host a free reception Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Kelson Gallery, 13 S. Spanish.

The Thursday Main Street meeting marks the 10th annual meeting of Missouri Main Street representatives.

Currently, there are 11 Main Street communities in Missouri. Since the state's program started in 1989, participating downtown organizations have witnessed the creation of more than 650 new businesses and 1,900 new jobs, with 650 building renovations and $66,800,000 reinvested locally.

Main Street towns receive extensive technical assistance from a national network of individuals with a broad abase of experience in downtown revitalization. The Missouri Main Street Program does not offer direct financial grants to the designated communities, but the communities receive in excess of $40,000 worth of downtown revitalization materials, on-site consultants and fund-raising assistance for up to four years.

The Historic Tax Credit workshop Feb. 18 will be held in the University Center Ballroom at the university starting with registration at 9:30 a.m.