Design

Our design programs benefit the community, property owners, and businesses

Home / Programs / Design

Emporia Main Street's DESIGN programs are run by a committee of volunteers along with Main Street staff. The goal of our design initiatives is to create a vibrant downtown commercial district by enhancing the district's physical and visual assets.

Our design programs work to improve downtown buildings, parking areas, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping. Our design programs also help individual business owners with building design, window display implementation, education, and advice. All design activities are focused on making downtown a welcoming place for residents and visitors, and a place for businesses to thrive.

Additionally, the Design Committee works to preserve the legacy and stories of the Downtown Historic District through a variety of historic preservation activities.

Design Programs

Adopt-a-Garden

Emporia's downtown gardens are all maintained by volunteers. If you love to garden, ask us how you can adopt one!

Historic Tax Credits

If you own property within Downtown Historic District, you may qualify for tax credits on maintenance, upgrades or redevelopment.

Veterans Banners

We honor our heroes every fall with a downtown display of over 200 light pole banners featuring area veterans.

Beyond the Banners

Beyond the Banners is a keepsake book that was created in response to the overwhelming popularity of our Veterans Banner Project.

Other Design Committe Projects

Historic Preservation
Downtown Clean-ups
Holiday decorating
Beautification projects
Design awards

Want to support a vibrant downtown atmosphere?

Our design programs seek to create a pleasant, welcoming environment downtown, which draws shoppers, residents, and visitors. This ultimately benefits not just downtown, but our community as a whole.

Interested in joining the design committee?

The Design Committee perfect for creative types who are willing to their hands dirty, as well those who are interested in or knowledgable about Emporia's history. Click the button below if you'd like to join!

Design Education

Activating Blocks

By Casey Woods | August 7, 2016

Listening to the descriptions of local citizens as they describe an area in their community is telling.  In one area, a consumer may say “this block is alive” and in another area, they may look and say “this block is dead”.  The activation of areas within a community is a combination of consumer science and…

Continue Reading >

Thanks For Making Us Number One

By Casey Woods | July 20, 2016

A little preface to the press release we sent out in conjunction with the award announcement: The Top 10 Best Main Streets Award nominees were chosen by a panel of economics experts that have access to economic and community data from cities- large and small- throughout the United States.  Simply being nominated for our innovative…

Continue Reading >

Talking to Property Owners

By Casey Woods | July 7, 2016

This is the second in a series of e-news articles inspired by sessions at the National Main Street conference in Milwaukee.  This particular session was attended by a volunteer, and it showcases some of the universal issues present in Main Street communities throughout the nation.  This is not a commentary on any local property (we…

Continue Reading >

Can Small Towns Be Cool?

By Casey Woods | June 20, 2016

Many communities that attend the National Main Street conference simply send one staff member.  In Emporia one of the keys to our community success has been encouraging board members and other volunteers to attend the conference.  Each conference day there are different sessions that occur at the same time.  Having several Emporians at the conference…

Continue Reading >

Four Point Refresh

By Casey Woods | June 7, 2016

Those of you that are familiar with the Main Street concept understand that we have a four point strategic approach.  The four points are:   Organization- Capacity Building, volunteer recruitment, grass roots training, fund raising, membership, branding and community promotion   Promotion- Events, activities, marketing and branding to either build consumer traffic in the immediate…

Continue Reading >

A Window to your Building’s Soul

By Casey Woods | April 7, 2016

In 2004, Thomas Frank released his book “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”  This book held particular scorn for Emporia residents, not just because of the author’s twist on the William Allen White editorial by the same name, but also through the author’s description of our community.  In the book, Emporia was characterized by embracing the aesthetic of…

Continue Reading >