Welcome to “Minutes on Main Street.” Each month we will be sharing with you more about Fayette Main Street, what is going on in our organization, what events we are working on or helping with, what new projects might be taking place, how you can get involved, and, of course, celebrating good news or things that “Move Fayette Forward!” A huge thank you to the Fayette Advertiser for partnering with us. 

Have you found it confusing that Fayette has a local organization called Fayette Main Street, Inc.? Well you are not alone! There are main street organizations all over the country that are in place to help keep rural downtowns, and their Main Street, strong! Here’s a little more about our organization: we are a non-profit following the state and national Main Street approach, which is based on a foundation of revitalization and economic support. Please visit our website at www.fayettemainstreet.org to learn more about our organization, our Executive Director and our volunteers. 

Currently, we have many things to celebrate as a community with the Bicentennial events and festivities, the forward progress of the multi-use building on the west side of the square, new businesses opening or changing hands, the continual growth of our Chamber of Commerce, and more. We are excited to share that we applied, and are one of five finalists for, a $10,000 grant called the Creative Spaces Activation Grant through the Missouri Main Street Connect organization for a creative flexible space pocket park in downtown Fayette. We will compete in a pitch presentation in St. Louis on July 27th and will find out the winner that evening. In addition, we have two finalists for awards at this year's 2023 Missouri Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference. Frank Flaspohler is a finalist for the ‘I Spy…Great Work’ Volunteer of the Year award and the Fayette Festival of Lights is a finalist for the ‘Creative New Promotion’ award. We will be recognized and the winner announced at a semi-formal event the evening of July 28th. Continue to check our social media for updates! 

Stay tuned next month to learn more about our four point Main Street approach to revitalization! In the meantime, visit our website and click “join our community” for updates from Fayette Main Street. 

Written by Cara Owings, Vice-President FMS and Cana Conrow, Executive Director