Welcome to River Falls Main
Street Project
We are a business supported organization of community minded volunteers committed to revitalizing downtown River Falls. Our goal is to support new and established businesses located within the Business Development District. This is accomplished by awarding monetary grants to qualified businesses who wish to improve the appearances of their store fronts through new facades or signage.
History
Wisconsin Act 184,
signed into law in 1984 provided Wisconsin municipalities the power to
establish Business Improvement Districts (BID). The purpose of the BID is to
provide municipalities a means for programs aimed at promotion, management,
maintenance, and development of the BID. In 1988, the city of River Falls
established a BID for its downtown area.
The River Falls Main Street Project was created in 1989 to manage the
downtown BID. The efforts of the Main Street Project Board of Directors are
intended to enhance the economic, social, environmental and cultural health
of the downtown BID and the entire community of River Falls.
Base funding for the Main Street Project is derived from a special
assessment on properties within the BID. The BID was approved in the fall of
1988 by a majority of property owners in the BID and has been re-approved
every year by the City Council after a public hearing process.
The Main Street Project is comprised of a board of directors composed of a
majority of individuals where property or business owners in the BID
For the first ten years, Main Street’s day-to-day operations were managed by
a full-time, paid Executive Director. In the fall of 2000 the Main Street
director resigned and the Board of Directors decided not to re-fill the
position. Since that time the BID has been managed solely by its volunteer
Board of Directors. At this time, no BID dollars are used for salaries or
rent.
Main Street’s primary emphasis is to provide matching sign and façade
improvement grants to business owners within the BID. Grants are available
at $.50 per $1.00 up to a maximum grant of $2,500 for signage and awnings
and $.35 per $1.00 up to a maximum grant of $12,000 for all other approved
façade improvements. Participants agree to follow all River Falls City
Ordinances and Main Street Design Criteria. The Main Street Design Committee
has full control of the design process and makes recommendations to the Main
Street Board for approval.
Main Street also provides financial support to the following efforts:
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River
Dazzle Holiday Extravaganza |
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Downtown
Gardens |
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Music in
the Park |
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Art on the
Kinni |
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Veterans
Park |
BID Map
July '09 EVENTS
Jul 9 - Jul 11 A Floral Fiest Flower Arranging Competition
Jul 9 - Jul 12
River Falls
Days
Jul 11
River Falls
Wrestling Open Takedown Tournament
Every Friday 7-9 PM,
Music in the Park, Veterans Park