What We Offer

We offer municipalities, business organizations such as Business Revitalization Zones (BRZs) or other partners a series of main street initiatives of at least three years’ duration that are tailored to communities of various sizes. Each main street initiative receives funding, expertise and services from the program that includes the following:

  1. A comprehensive Four Point Approach combines professional conservation of the historic main street area with strong local organization, effective marketing to promote the historic area as a unique and appealing shopping experience, and economic development strategies to retain and attract businesses. Pioneered by the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation and Heritage Canada, this proven, broad-based strategy is based on the principle that sustainable heritage conservation and economic and social renewal of the historic downtown go hand-in-hand.
  2. Project funding includes building facade rehabilitation grants, coordinator salary subsidies, project planning funds and discretionary funds for a range of marketing, economic development and design activities.
  3. Technical resources cover all aspects of main street project implementation and include a series of seven, detailed program manuals, assistance by program staff, and access to planning and preservation advisors within the Heritage Resource Management Branch.
  4. Links with Canada’s Historic Places Initiative through Alberta’s Municipal Heritage Partnership Program provides main street communities and other municipalities additional tools and financial assistance to identify heritage buildings and main streets; develop programs to protect significant historic places through municipal designation and other means; and to nominate historic buildings and districts to the Alberta Register of Historic Places and Canadian Register of Historic Places where owners of listed heritage properties may qualify for provincial and federal conservation incentives.
  5. A network of 23 partner communities provides opportunities to share experience and expertise with other municipalities and participate in initiatives such as Doors Open Alberta, a province-wide heritage awareness program.
Building owners in Camrose

Proud owners of Cobblers and Craftsman, a restored main street storefront in Camrose

“The support network and access to other funding makes a total package that really works.”