Beaumont Main Street is governed by a 15 member Board of Directors elected annually by the membership.

Who were the predecessors of Beaumont Main Street?
In the 1970s, city leaders organized Central City Development Corporation (CCDC).     In 1985, CCDC became BUILD, Inc. and a 501(c)(3) status was obtained.  BUILD, Inc. is an acronym for Beaumont Urban Improvement and Leadership for Downtown.

In 1991, BUILD, Inc. and the City of Beaumont applied for Main Street designation from the Texas Historical Commission.  The designation was approved and in 1992 Beaumont Main Street began the work of revitalizing Beaumont’s historic downtown area.   

BUILD, Inc. is our corporate name.

What boundaries does Main Street primarily work within?
Beaumont Main Street’s primary area of concern is north to Interstate 10, south to Franklin Street, east to the Neches River/Main Street and west to Jefferson Street.
Over 40 blocks are included in the Main Street target area.

Is Beaumont Main Street some kind of government program?
No.  We are a non-profit organization, but we are associated with the Texas Historical Commission’s Main Street Center in Austin and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center in Washington D.C.  The City of Beaumont is our major public sector partner.

Are there grants available for building restoration, acquisition, new construction or business inventory?
Grant funding is usually for non-profit organizations.  Beaumont Main Street does not have grant money to distribute to private property owners.  However, we do have several incentives for restoration, renovation and improvements to buildings located in the downtown area.  This information is found under “Design.” 

How does Main Street revitalize downtown Beaumont?
Through organization, promotion, economic development and design activities.

Beaumont Main Street staff and volunteers receive tremendous training and networking opportunities with other Main Street communities across the United States.  There are approximately 85 Texas Main Street communities including Brenham, Canyon, Livingston, Harlingen and Texarkana.  There are over 1,200 Main Street communities in the United States including programs in Oklahoma, Iowa, California, Virginia and Maine. 

How is Beaumont Main Street funded?  
Our budget is approximately $170,000 annually.  Approximately 1/2 comes from the City of Beaumont and 1/2 is matched by Beaumont Main Street.  The organization raises these funds through membership investment and sponsorship of promotional events and publications.

How are you staffed?
Beaumont Main Street has a full-time staff of two; an Executive Director and a Director of Community Development.

Do you use volunteers?
Volunteers are the backbone of Beaumont Main Street.  Each year over 100 volunteers serve on Main Street committees or in other volunteer capacities. 

What kind of public/private sector investment and job growth has occurred since Main Street began in 1992? 
Over $100 million has been invested in property acquisition, renovation, restoration and new construction by both the private and public sectors in downtown Beaumont. Forty-eight buildings have been restored or renovated by the private sector for a total of $47.6 million while the area has experienced over $4 million in private sector new construction including the townhomes of Cathedral Square.

The City of Beaumont has invested over $3.2 million in public improvements to Pearl and Orleans Streets including street improvements, paved sidewalks and vintage lighting.  A new Convention & Visitors Bureau has been completed with a price tag of $1.5 million.  The City of Beaumont has also completed the restoration of the historic Julie Rogers Theatre for the Performing Arts for $3.6 million.  The $6.5 million restoration of the historic Jefferson Theatre in 2003 compliments this restoration.  The restoration of the Jefferson Theatre was a $2 million public sector investment and a $4.5 million private sector investment.

The downtown area has experienced a net gain of 1,200 jobs including the various entertainment venues of the Crockett Street Entertainment District, Chicago Bridge and Iron, Congressman Ted Poe’s office, Richard Construction and Mobil Oil Federal Credit Union.

For every $1 the City of Beaumont has invested in Beaumont Main Street, the private-sector has invested $58 in acquisition of buildings or property, renovation and restoration of buildings as well as new construction.

Links

Texas Historical Commission
www.thc.state.tx.us

National Trust for Historic Preservation
www.preservationnation.org

National Trust Main Street Center
www.mainstreet.org

Texas Downtown Association
www.texasdowntown.org

Preservation Texas
www.preservationtexas.org