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 membership and development, marketing, design, and business retention and expansion into a practical management strategy, the approach produces fundamental
change in the downtown’s economic base.
Our Staff:
Cary Darrah, Executive Director
Jan Andersen, Events and Promotions Coordinator
Contact Information:
Cedar Falls Community Main Street
602 Main Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 277-0213
Fax: (319) 277-9474
We're a Cultural District!
 Community Main Street is pleased to announce that downtown Cedar Falls has been certified as a cultural district by the state of Iowa.
Only about 90 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!
 FORT WORTH, TX (April 8, 2002) – The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today that Cedar Falls, Iowa has earned a 2002 Great American Main Street Award. The award recognizes the nation's best efforts in downtown revitalization through historic preservation. The award was presented at the National Trust's 2002 National Town Meeting on Main Street in Fort Worth. The annual conference of the National Trust's Main Street Center runs from April 7-10.
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 was a successful catalyst for inter-agency partnerships and the lead economic development partner in the community. Long-range planning and preservation initiatives provided vision that led to the current economic expansion.
"Cedar Falls is a textbook example of how the Main Street approach can help communities large and small," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust, which works to save diverse historic places and revitalize communities. "Though the challenges were great, Cedar Falls turned itself around by addressing each of the community's needs. We are proud to honor Cedar Falls with one of this year's Great American Main Street Awards and congratulate the town's leaders for their perseverance and excellence in revitalizing their commercial district."
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. Today, only two storefronts are empty, both pending new business, 299 buildings have renovated or rehabilitated or improved, over $14 million of private money has been invested and 210 new jobs have been created.
Other 2002 winners are: Milford, New Hampshire; Okmulgee, Oklahoma; Staunton, Virginia; and La Crosse, Wisconsin
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