Havre may become part of Montana Main Street

Havre is looking at becoming part of the Montana Main Street Project.

The program offers help to downtown areas hoping to revitalize in a variety of ways.

Downtown business people, government leaders, historic preservation people, those in the tourism business and community residents are being urged to attend a meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Havre Historic Post Office in downtown Havre.

Tash Wisemiller, program coordinator of the Montana Main Street Program, will outline the program and explain what it offers the community.

Wisemiller said he is coming at the request of Debbie Vandeberg, executive director of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, and Mayor Tim Solomon.

A program initiative by Gov. Steve Bullock, Montana Main Street has helped communities ranging in size from Terry, with 400 people, to Billings, the state's largest city with 155,000 people.

Vandeberg said the help the project offers varies from assistance in historic preservation to tourism to facade renovation.

Membership in the organization opens the door to direct aid and financial and technical help from programs sponsored by the USDA, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and Montana tourism programs.

She said Montana Main Street helps communities strengthen and preserve their historic downtown commercial districts.

The program’s staff focuses on community and economic development, urban revitalization, tourism development and historic preservation through long-range planning, organization, design and promotion, Vandeberg said.

The first step in becoming a member is to prepare a plan for what the city would like to accomplish under the program, she said.

The plan is submitted between Oct. 1 and the end of the year, she said.

Vandeberg said help in programs such as historic preservation, promotion and tourism fit well into what many downtown Havre people have already talked about as ways of improving the area.

The meeting is being held in the restored former post office, a perfect example of successful historic preservation, Vandeberg said. The restored building houses many offices and is the home of the owners, Dr. Marc Whitaker and Dr. Erica Farmer. Everyone is welcome to attend the session, Vandeberg said, but she hopes people will RSVP.

People can let the Chamber know they are coming by calling 265-4383 or emailing [email protected].