Barracks Row Mainstreet

Programs: The Economic Revitalization Committee works to understand the spending power and habits of residents, daytime employees, and visitors through surveys and retail market analysis; helps businesses that are currently open to be more profitable; attracts new businesses; and fosters the creation of more jobs. To assist small businesses, BRMS opened a small business resource center in 2003 where seminars are offered, business support services are available, and consultants are available to help merchants better merchandise their stores to attract new customers. We have also created a partnership with the SBA's small business development centers around DC to augment our offerings. As a subset of our Economic Revitalization Committee, the Jobs Subcommittee works with job-training organizations by conducting mock interviews for job-training organizations, reviewing resumes, matching candidates with open positions, and building relationships with the 146 merchants on 8th Street to encourage them to hire welfare-to-work individuals for their openings. Our Design Committee worked with the DC Department of Transportation to create a comprehensive streetscape design, which features brick sidewalks, Washington Globe street lights, 77 new American Elms in partnership with the Casey Trees Endowment, and Low Impact Development tree boxes, which filter storm-water runoff that would otherwise overflow into the Anacostia River. This $7.5 million project was completed in December 2003. The Design Committee also works with business and building owners to help them improve their signs and restore their building facades. Last year, the Design Committee developed Sign Guidelines and created a matching sign grant program - awarding nine sign grants so far. The Committee also created Façade Design Guidelines in conjunction with the DC Historic Preservation Office and has funded a matching façade grant program to encourage more façade restoration. The Promotion Committee undertakes activities that market Barracks Row through retail events (Late Night Shopping), special events (street festivals), and image campaigns (walking tours). Promotions organized by the Committee have included a joint advertisement in the Hill Rag and Voice of the Hill, Barracks Row Fest - a street festival attracting 5000 attendees, Trick-or-Treat on 8th Street - drawing 300 neighborhood children with their parents (potential customers) asking for candy from shop to shop, a tree planting event in partnership with the Casey Trees Endowment, and Late Night Shopping on 8th Street during the holidays. The Organization Committee is very active governing the volunteer Board of Directors and committees, raising funds from a broad spectrum of sources, communicating with merchants and the wider community through a quarterly newsletter and a website, working to recruit and retain volunteers (198 active volunteers), sending out press releases, and promoting the organization through writing monthly articles for community papers, such as Voice of the Hill and the Hill Rag. Although the staff is small (2.5 people), BRMS is able to accomplish a great deal because it is volunteer-driven - leveraging thousands of volunteer hours each year. Without their dedication, expertise, and hard work, only a few of these accomplishments would be possible. Barracks Row Main Street was designated an official DC Main Street in 2002, and certified an official Main Street program by the National Main Street Center in 2002 and 2003. Most recently, BRMS was awarded a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center.