We’ve all seen it. Driving through America’s many cities and towns, we see main streets given over to the damage that time breeds absent care or maintenance. Buildings and streets that were once the centerpiece of civic life are vacant, waterworn or crumbling.

Here at Main Street Siloam Springs, we believe that preservation of our downtown is the best economic development tool our community possesses. We know, for example, that cities with active downtown preservation efforts more easily retain local employees and young citizens. We know that maintaining infrastructure in downtown prolongs the life of investments made over time. We know that the experience of downtown is more important today than it ever was. Downtown provides a sense of place that is difficult to replicate, and once lost is gone forever.

As a public space, downtown provides a place for people to engage with friends and neighbors. As a marketplace it promotes local business. As an historic district it holds our stories and protects our cultural assets. Through its built environment it promotes healthy lifestyle choices like walking, biking, and enjoying the natural environment. Perhaps most importantly, as a destination it promotes quality of life for all residents and potential visitors.