Community Main Street, Inc., was organized in 1987 by citizens concerned about the continuing threats to commercial architecture of Cedar Falls’ central business district and aware of the need to stimulate economic revitalization in downtown.
The foundation of the Community Main Street approach is preservation of the physical environment and of the human resources of the downtown district. A comprehensive four-point approach is the key to CMS’s success. By integrating business improvement, design, organization & development and promotion into a practical management strategy, the approach produces fundamental change in the downtown’s economic base. Our Staff:
Kelly Sydonie Armstrong, Executive Director
Jan Andersen, Events and Promotions Coordinator Contact Information:
Cedar Falls Community Main Street
206 Main Street Suite B
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 277-0213
communitymainst@cfu.net We're a Cultural District!  Community Main Street is pleased downtown Cedar Falls has been certified as a cultural district by the state of Iowa.
A limited number of cities in the U.S. have implemented official cultural districts. To receive certification, the area must meet certain qualifications as well as a well-recognized, labeled, mixed-use, compact area of a city in which a high concentration of cultural facilities serves as the anchor and is not larger than one square mile in area. The benefits offered to certified districts can include historic tax credits for rehabilitation of historic structures or other incentives which create live/work space for cultural workers, space for cultural and entertainment enterprises and access to financial assistance programs from state agencies and other funding partners. We're a Great American Main Street!  In April 2002, the National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded Cedar Falls, Iowa the Great American Main Street Award. The award recognizes the nation's best efforts in downtown revitalization through historic preservation.
Like many American communities, Cedar Falls experienced loss of jobs as the farm economy failed and factories closed or laid off workers during the 1980's. By 1987 Cedar Falls' historic business district was nearly vacant. Although committed to their downtown business district, the community struggled with a long-term revitalization plan. Though the challenges were great, Cedar Falls turned itself around by addressing each of the community's needs. Since then, Cedar Falls Main Street Community has grown to include downtown merchants, lifelong residents and newcomers who have discovered the newly preserved and revitalized community. The organization is a successful catalyst for inter-agency partnerships and the lead economic development partner in the community. Long-range planning and preservation initiatives provides vision that has led to the current economic expansion.
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