[OMS_MANAGERS] OMS Round-up

Mon Sep 8 11:49:14 PDT 2025

In this Edition:

  *   OMS Updates: MoM Guest Speaker, Sept 18; Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey
  *   Trending Insights: Facebook, Vacant Spaces, Façade Improvements
  *   Resources: Survey of Rural Challenges Leaders Roundtable, Sept 11
  *   Grants: Oregon Heritage, Arts Build Communities, T-Mobile, Roundhouse Foundation

OMS Updates

  *   Third Thursday Mornings on Main, September 18, will feature Ilana Preuss, Founder & CEO, Recast City LLC and author of  Recast Your City<https://bookshop.org/books/recast-your-city-how-to-save-your-downtown-with-small-scale-manufacturing/9781642831924>. Ilana is a frequent speaker at Main Street Now and is passionate about supporting a makers culture in downtowns. Recently she developed a new tool, the Recast City SPARK Scorecard<https://recastcity.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GE4KXPNEpz5z_tHVuSh1q2gvNIikegwYHQ3VXPK6XV._Uy.zeJ0242jitE~j_YxXHTE>, for communities to use to assess how you are doing in supporting new product development. It is built on Ilana’s 25 years in the industry, the 44 states and 200 communities she has worked with at Recast City, and best practices from all over the country - and pulled it all together into a 10 minute scorecard for you to use.

  *   The Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey Now Open – we are a partner in this effort. Help improve what’s known about small businesses Please encourage your small business owners to take 12 minutes to describe their past year. Here’s a message you can share with your small businesses:

[2025 SBCS Survey banner-1]

The Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey is now open, and Oregon Main Street is a partner in this effort. Owners and key financial decisionmakers of for-profit businesses, share your recent experiences about whether and how you use debt, what financial conditions you face, and more. Answers to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours. Take the Take the 12 minute survey.<https://fedreserveboard.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_28XYEIGb3d94Mfk?orgid=OMS>

Trending Insights

  *    The current average time spent on Facebook per day is around 31 minutes. If your Main Street is relying on social media, then there is a chance your community is missing your message! With an average of only 31 minutes a day on the biggest social media platform globally, it is time to look at ways to directly talk with your community via email. Stat from Sprout Social, Social media demographics to inform your 2025 strategy<https://4kwsopdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zX2b5OF4rXuLzbbJJdT8ASwqHew0B9IuRj-MWzhmzjgpnhEEkSDWms8dpSx0hJXL11WqTwmHPcpqBqtg37CZ4oJxKdjfVjm7fvkZMWiHym2INw5v60Y94tHdA5px6nl5lOhu2R_PZ5Dobj8PRW6TQYbtrO9i1SckPLZ2MzDuMO_D5hNxoMASWHXgeHRhYHCseVMG7ylZ4rWKj-iydUyEnw==&c=rYWsHVkaJmcFHvILXpI8S8praOfdk1xPdCL1FhRHQz9vhRZv1k5_tw==&ch=srGr9krAEyzcJPfeivdmfUM8Ge0_h0aXsSRfLOHu7Ps7W_c-xtQvrQ==>

  *   Filling vacant buildings supports vibrancy. Vacant buildings create visual gaps that deter locals and visitors from exploring more of a historic commercial district. Filling the empty spaces restores economic activity and a sense of vibrancy. *Tip from Main Street America, Understanding Vacancy and What You Can Do About It<https://4kwsopdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zX2b5OF4rXuLzbbJJdT8ASwqHew0B9IuRj-MWzhmzjgpnhEEkSDWms8dpSx0hJXLejj0guD1BUHihvEbApu1QNm51OAyS8aStt2sWr5xaxfo-5WnPE4DqAeO6PkoYyaFfDLH9kxC4pS1Fckj-RJIzo5rRp77w3jMZXgj1dfaGL_bAaHsLjh6CkuavEUhTX0dtPPeHAL6vCj2KkqQjBZMyZ6-0xNosqqD5MtgWJnp54bjLy2RjTYvSny0B2jPH8GOpuqHw4lJGTA=&c=4qsQSZ9LRUZB98jCDRPQ1NjpxdyQUGXKQucvBGABrDltcM-1pychHQ==&ch=g6RImt9ZQLLBQmSrDFbUmDJJtfhzyA0huVLNdfkJsPPEiQCUlNAeQA==>

  *   Maintaining the facade of a downtown building leads to an average 20% increase in sales*. It is vital to maintain and repair the facades of downtown buildings with the right materials. By doing so, the storefront will continue to complement surrounding buildings and attract more customers and sales. *Stat from Main Street America, Measuring the Economic Impact of Storefront Improvements<https://4kwsopdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zX2b5OF4rXuLzbbJJdT8ASwqHew0B9IuRj-MWzhmzjgpnhEEkSDWms8dpSx0hJXLw_G7z1X9RKveL_0DWlm5RUCGoC_m30AsPcvxak-VSMgKc-VMp6O0xIlyWr0WNsrzszyWSg-VVRzoGKxdt0IxPYAP7tbNyDwJWVRptr0roi2bdTVlQ0MBxZQSkbpPFbhxwjyQbdU47bbog3hGEEDR2F3KY0xigt0jO1vEPLqnrXW4iy5CUUvgNCg_HhYPyq3h&c=4qsQSZ9LRUZB98jCDRPQ1NjpxdyQUGXKQucvBGABrDltcM-1pychHQ==&ch=g6RImt9ZQLLBQmSrDFbUmDJJtfhzyA0huVLNdfkJsPPEiQCUlNAeQA==>

Resources

  *   AMIBA: What Ten Years of Surveys Tell Us About Rural Business Challenges - Local Leaders Roundtable | Free Virtual Event | Thursday, September 11, 1 pm ET | Register here<https://amiba.net/events/#!event/register/2025/9/11/what-ten-years-of-surveys-tell-us-about-rural-business-challenges-virtual-event>
The Survey of Rural Challenges<https://smq9h64ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001vz3r-QB1jFjfEJ8jYytOGGTJy1b9Nxy-XWSTQsDE763l8ljvuwO-yCEAWtArxq2_69j15a5B3_67HGTYpkVnfeCJSHe1nT0QJ60VM3xZyBXL2EJKVzOr9wjI8GKtEZRJz_I93cnRNQgh2cBd1GjJ4mBUqvyC5W7bnQEbnPAWU51n4Xtj1M_JHOFawZBBL5pj&c=fKD6v0-yGtlbMynp5YrJEiN3uWGyBtwnfDqd-WfLsJY533pBOSVqlg==&ch=9hYlBd37IPf--tRW5JGxYBCaiWN8JJiWQO50CAmQ6PaaECm4gIpl0Q==> asks rural people to share their firsthand insights into the challenges they face and the resources they hunger for. A new report analyzes over 2,200 responses from communities across the US and Canada from 2015 to 2024. Join rural experts Becky McCray and Deb Brown of SaveYour.Town<https://saveyour.town/>, as they share what ten years of these surveys reveal, what is changing and what remains the same in small towns and rural areas, as seen from the perspective of their own residents. Discover actions business owners and local economy leaders can take to respond to these challenges and leverage community assets. Can't make the date? Register anyway, and they will email you the event recording.

Grants

  *   Oregon Heritage Grant Deadline less than a month away, Oct. 2 - The Oregon Heritage Grant provides matching grants to non-profit organizations, federal recognized tribal governments, universities and local governments for projects that conserve, develop or interpret Oregon’s heritage. Application Deadline: October 2, 2025 (11:59 p.m.) Learn more and apply here<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx>.
  *   Arts Builds Community: The new / FY2026 guidelines are now posted on the Oregon Art Commission’s  website here<https://www.oregon.gov/biz/aboutus/artscommission/Documents/Grant%20Guidelines/ABC_FY26_Guidelines.pdf>. Applicants may start their applications now since all questions are included in the guidelines. The online grants portal will be “live” and ready to accept submissions on September 1, 2025.
  *   T-Mobile Hometown Grants July – September Round | Learn More & Apply<https://d5ghn804.na1.hubspotlinks.com/Ctc/Y+113/d5gHn804/VVvyN66rcQwhVYr6sG1tBWnpW3V7XmG5yt958N11fKXs3m2nnW8wLKSR6lZ3njW6hbzkc5gN3S-W83q6Wn4h5sJLW21chXH8wbLhgW76xqFv6cN-XKW7jQl2Z2Ym_rkW51fvmW8yxCH1VFK7TC9c2mHLW4ZGQB92k5f_FW3yC5CT3jMgysW45x08W92lsc_W9bj6xM8PhPHFW5HYtsd55P6T-N6xxbpRZsQ00W1qzSkd9hr5yDW5gSWKV2pqzFfW5rTjyT78yqx6W1gDm3X2qdYFrW4B_ftm5YmgbCVHRlGk7nKcLCW9b0Clz1XnFbrW4SvP9c5dp2xsW7yJ_Jt2bKV7NW2LMtdk3Cb9HFW5QGJ-77w1ZQNN3yVLsMMjgtsW69K4fn1k9SY9W63ZS2R676lpyW3Nh1dP6zDNrvf8bWy7l04>: For communities with populations of 50,000 or less, the program provides grants of up to $50,000 to help build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities!
  *   Roundhouse Foundation’s Technical Assistance & Professional Development Grants | Learn More & Apply<https://roundhousefoundation.org/how-to-apply-for-roundhouse-grants/#technicalassistance> - Grants support professional development and technical assistance opportunities that strengthen the skills, talents, and capacity of our partners in the nonprofit sector. We understand that while opportunities for skill development and strategic investments are highly valuable, they can often be difficult to pay for. This pilot program is designed to gather insights and improve future offerings. Grants up to $5,000. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities (including special districts) and Tribal governments serving rural Oregon. Application open through November 30; new applications considered monthly. Decisions can take 6-8 weeks.

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Sheri Stuart (she, her, hers) |  Oregon Main Street Coordinator
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oregon Heritage, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Cell: (503)551-3705
725 Summer St NE, Ste C
Salem, Oregon 97301

Visit our website<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>, Like us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/OregonHeritage>, Visit our Blog<http://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/>, Join the Oregon Heritage News e-news<https://omls.oregon.gov/mailman/listinfo/Heritage> Check our LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/>.

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