Main Street Murfreesboro, the nonprofit program critical to creating and maintaining the vibrancy of downtown, is featured this month on “The Insider,” the City’s official podcast. Executive Director Sarah Callender discusses her vision for Main Street Murfreesboro and the history of the program affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center.
Learn more about Main Street’s many projects, programs, and events on the latest edition of “The Insider” at https://cityofmurfreesborotn.podbean.com/. If you prefer to watch the podcast on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/faU-Cu1LJnw for the discussion.
Topics discussed include:
- The history of Main Street Murfreesboro beginning in 1985 with City support to beautify and preserve downtown through partnership and development
- Rehabilitation and economic development projects in historic downtown Murfreesboro in conjunction with the Planning Department
- Design Awards, Business of the Year, promotion, and marketing efforts by Main Street
- How Main Street works to create a sense of place in Murfreesboro with Farmer’s Market, Friday Night Live concerts, Jazz Fest, Celebrate Christmas, and Scarecrows Downtown to bring people to the heart of Murfreesboro on the Historic Square
- The Levitt AMP Foundation grant funding for a possible free, outdoor music series
Help Main Street bring a free outdoor music series to downtown Murfreesboro in 2023 by texting “MBORO” to 866-267-2023 or visit levitt.org/vote levitt.org/vote.
The public is urged to participate in the voting process through Sept. 21, for the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt AMP Foundation grant funding, serving small to mid-sized towns and cities. Main Street Murfreesboro is partnering with organizations to bring live music downtown, including, the Rutherford Arts Alliance, Bradley Academy, Center for the Arts, Earth Day, and Friday Night Live.
In her role as executive director, Callender collaborates with downtown business owners, the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County government, MTSU, and the arts community to promote Main Street and encourage support for the downtown economy, character, and sense of place.
The Main Street Board of Directors hired Callender as the organization’s new executive director in 2019. She came to Main Street with experience working for non-profit organizations, including Special Kids Therapy and Nursing Center, Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts America, and Belle Aire Baptist Church.
The nonprofit Main Street Program is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center and follows the tenets of that program. Main Street capitalizes on the unique character of the courthouse square and the surrounding business district with the goal of transforming it into the cultural, social, professional, and retail center of Rutherford County, in essence, the hub of community life.
For more information on Mainstreet or to get involved, visit www.mainstreetmurfreesboro.org or email Sarah Calendar at Sarah@downtownmurfreesboro.com.
Award-winning producer Michael Nevills produces “The Insider” every month in the studios located in Murfreesboro City Hall.
The podcasts are available for listening via Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music Audible and Google Podcasts. Video versions are also available on YouTube and Facebook.
For City News online, visit www.Murfreesborotn.gov.