Small City Support for Main Street Businesses.

OVERVIEW.

Small cities depend mightily on their main street businesses and ambiance. Neighborhoods, development corridors and open space systems have needs that require long-term attention, but they tend to care for themselves in the short run. In the short run, when disaster occurs, main street suffers quickly and severely; mostly because the basic element of main street is the small business, usually locally owned.

Therefore, in times of crisis, main street needs support: support from customers when possible, from vendors and suppliers, and from the host city. The following discussion focuses on what small city governments can do to support their main street businesses