Participating in continued education is more than a requirement of being part of the Wisconsin Main Street. Connecting with peers and fresh ideas brings a renewed sense of excitement to the Wisconsin Main Street and Connect Communities programs.
When I was a local director in Ohio, some of the best “forward thinking” time happened when board members and I returned from a conference or workshop. Early on, my program saw such value in this that our yearly budget included travel for not only me as a staff person, but also for board members. Connections from the trainings could be called upon at a later date to ask follow-up questions or assist with thinking through an idea. The power of the network is immeasurable for the success of downtowns and historic commercial districts.
