Downtown Racine Corporation (DRC), the lead downtown revitalization organization, has been recognized by WEDC as a Gold Tier Main Street organization for the fiscal year 2025.
Downtown Racine Corporation is one of 34 designated Main Street programs around the state. Of those, 14 have achieved Gold Tier status by demonstrating excellent organizational effectiveness and community engagement in their downtown initiative above and beyond program requirements. In recognition of this success, DRC is eligible for additional services to benefit their district, and staff and board members are invited to participate in an advocacy event intended to help develop and inform additional downtown-friendly programs and policies at the state level.
The Main Street Program, enacted in 1987, provides access to resources and training to help communities pursue revitalization and redevelopment efforts. Programs must apply to join the program. They must have a dedicated board of directors, paid staff, and a minimum operational budget. Once accepted, program staff and board members must participate in a series of annual training events and complete monthly impact reporting.
This year marks the Downtown Racine Corporation’s (DRC) 7th anniversary as a designated Wisconsin Main Street Organization. Since joining the program in 2017, downtown Racine has seen the arrival of 172 new businesses and the launch of several impactful initiatives. These include increasing event activation to over 100 events annually, developing a comprehensive business resource guide, and continuing a public art project for more than 20 consecutive years. The DRC has also earned multiple statewide marketing and event awards, including the Best Event in the State for Party on the Pavement (2022) and First Fridays (2023).
“Strong, thriving communities are what makes Wisconsin a great place for people to live, work, grow, and do business,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “WEDC congratulates Downtown Racine Corporation for their commitment to successful community development.”
This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to revitalizing and enhancing the downtown area, making it a vibrant destination for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. We look forward to leveraging the additional resources and opportunities that come with this honor to continue driving positive change, state Kelly Kruse, executive Director of DRC.
“This is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our board, staff, and the entire downtown Racine community. This recognition inspires us to push forward with even greater determination, ”stated Tim Mason, Chairman.
Main Street program participants benefit from many types of assistance and resources as part of a broad-based network of communities with similar objectives. The average Main Street participant receives $15,000 in program services on behalf of their districts. Services include:
• Participation in Main Street workshops focused on popular downtown revitalization topics.
• Direct services from staff including property renderings, design assistance, event impact analysis, marketing assistance, strategic planning, and board development.
• Regular on-site visits from consultants to assist in developing district goals, including development planning, wayfinding, public space design, and parking.
• Training for the downtown director or program lead, board president, or municipal staff.
• Roundtable discussion groups, quarterly webinars, and regional training sessions on pertinent topics.
• Access to WEDC’s online downtown development library of resources and toolkits.
• Invitation to the annual Main Street Awards program and the ability to nominate local projects and initiatives for recognition.
• An online networking and discussion group to get new ideas from staff and other participating communities.
• Businesses and property owners in designated districts also receive assistance in relevant topics including merchandising, ecommerce and façade improvement. They also are eligible to access matching loan dollars through the Kiva crowdlending platform, have access to a statewi
de historic façade design library, and can apply for annual makeover and place-makeover contests.
