[OMS_MANAGERS] Updated 2022 Oregon Main Street Conference Information

Wed Aug 31 10:31:16 PDT 2022

2022 Oregon Main Street Conference Highlights
Are you getting excited for the Oregon Main Street Conference<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/omsconference.aspx>? We are! Join your fellow conference attendees for the official kick-off of the 2022 Main Street Conference in the beautiful Ross Ragland Theater in historic downtown Klamath Falls, Oct. 5-7. The Opening Plenary, featuring the Excellence on Main Awards and keynote addresses, is always a highlight of the conference and will get you inspired and energized as you prepare for the two action-packed days to follow of sessions, tours, and events.

Keynote Speakers:

  *   Just Added! Patrice Frey, former President & CEO of Main Street America(tm) will share her reflections on the main street movement and thoughts about the future. Patrice was instrumental in leading the transformation of Main Street America as an independent nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and growing the national network into a robust organization.

  *   Jon Stover from Jon Stover & Associates (JS&A) will share the results of the recently completed Oregon Main Street Impact Analysis. The report highlights the success of the Oregon Main Street network through qualitative stories of how the network preserves, sustains, and enhances communities and the quantitative impacts this success has brought to the state's economy. S&A has worked with Main Street America(tm) as well as local Main Streets and Coordinating Programs across the country in quantifying the impacts and value Main Streets bring to the economy and community. In doing so, this report serves as a tool for both Oregon Main Street, local programs, and state partners to better communicate the many ways in which Main Streets generate value and play a pivotal role in your communities.

Main Idea Plenary
Andrew Howard is internationally respected for his people focused design approach and rapid-implementation strategies that are being replicated around the world. Howard's overarching goal is to equip new leaders to take action in their communities. Andrew will bring examples of how Better Block projects and other quick-build actions have revitalized communities from Sidney Australia to Bethel, Vermont. Be aware this keynote has led to people painting their own bike lanes, setting up pop-up shops and converting parking spaces to parklets. You will also have an opportunity to participate in a hands-on workshop with Andrew in downtown Klamath Falls as one of the conference Deep Dive sessions.

Closing Plenary
We will conclude the 2022 Main Street Conference with the Oregon Main Street "Open Door" Pitch Contest. Our Oregon Main Street Network organizations help create inclusive and welcoming environments that make all feel that they belong and are invited into the community. Come hear from local organizations about a project or idea on their work plan to make their downtown or organization more welcoming but they haven't been able to move forward due to a lack of funding.  You can help us select the organization who will walk away with $5,000 to implement their dream project! We are grateful to our expert panelists: Aimée Okotie-Oyekan, Department of Land Conservation and Development; James Rojas, Place It!; Bandana Shrestha, Oregon AARP; and Brad Attig, Foundry Collective for sharing their insights.

Conference Tours
We have an expanded selection of tours for Thursday afternoon put together by the Klamath Falls Downtown Association. You can sign up for the tour of your choice in the registration area at the conference.

·         Railroad's Coming - We Need a Trolley! (Historic Streetcar Tour) - limited to 10 participants

As Klamath prepared for the coming of the California Northeastern Railroad in the early 1900s, the city made plans for a streetcar system to facilitate travel up and down Main Street. On this tour, you'll trace the original trolley route on a replica streetcar similar to the one that operated in the early 1900s. Led by staff with the Klamath County Museum, the tour will focus on what the town looked like when the original trolley ran. At that time, there were few brick buildings in town, few cars on the road, and livery stables were common in the downtown area.

·         Leveraging Public Resources to Encourage Downtown Investment

A transformation is happening in downtown Klamath Falls in adapting, reusing, and restoring the historic character of the district's buildings. On this tour see how local and state funds are helping to leverage private dollars to create upper floor housing and other exciting development projects in previously vacant or underutilized space and to bring back the historic character of buildings to help new and existing businesses flourish.

·         Placemaking on Main

The Klamath Falls Downtown Association has continuously advocated for projects that activate certain components of its downtown and has leveraged partnerships with local stakeholders and community groups to make downtown more inviting and the district less prone to vandalism. On this tour see and hear about many of these projects including the award-winning utility box art and Klamath Piano projects. You will walk away inspired to create your own downtown projects!

·         More Than Just Open Space: Integrating Public Trails and Parks in Downtown

Unique to other communities its size, Downtown Klamath Falls is home to four City parks. On this tour you'll visit these parks - each with its own distinct character - and learn how the City of Klamath Falls, in collaboration with KFDA and other stakeholders, have leveraged vacant space, an up-and-coming trail system and the existing built environment to provide an urban parks system that serves and inspires its community.

·         Architecture of Klamath's Booming Era

In the 1910s and '20s, Klamath Falls was the fastest growing city in Oregon, fueled by income from timber and irrigated agriculture. This half-mile walking tour will focus on some of downtown's most beautiful buildings erected during that time.

Post-Conference Activities
The Klamath Falls Downtown Association has been working hard with partners to coordinate activities to extend your visit to the area. On Friday evening, you are invited to join them as special guests for a community Wine and Appetizers reception at the Favell Museum, celebrating its 50th year. Tour one of the most extensive collections of western art and Native American artifacts in the nation, and as a bonus, you'll experience the Favell's 10th Annual Art show featuring original, contemporary and representational wall and sculpture art by 30 artists throughout the West. The collection includes many pieces by world renowned bronze sculpture artist, Stefan Savides - a Klamath Falls resident - whose work you can see in several places in Klamath Falls. Reception sponsored by Bell Hardware of Klamath Falls.

And, check out these amazing FREE post conference excursions brought to you by the Discover Klamath Visitor & Convention Bureau and Klamath County Museum. Excursions include a guided tour of Crater Lake, an Upper Link River walking tour, an exploration of the Baldwin Hotel Museum, and a special behind the scenes tour of the Klamath County Museum! To sign-up for the post-conference tours and for more information visit the registration page<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/omsconference.aspx>.

Special Thanks to our Conference Sponsors:

Platinum + Sponsor:
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Platinum Sponsor:

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Gold Sponsor:

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Silver Sponsors:

  *   Energy Trust of Oregon

  *   Enhanced Visitor Experience

Bronze Sponsors:

  *   Klamath Community College Small Business Development Center

  *   Oregon Housing & Community Services

  *   Peter Meijer Architect

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