[OMS_MANAGERS] OMS Round-Up | September 23, 2025

Tue Sep 23 09:29:43 PDT 2025

Hello Main Streeters,

Don’t miss this week’s Round-Up! It’s chock-full of incredible resources and opportunities. Have a great week!

What’s inside:

  *   OMS Updates: Reporting Deadline Extension
  *   Conference Updates: Sheri Stuart as Keynote, Closing Plenary, Pre-Conferences
  *   Learning Opportunties: Webinar: Additions to Historic Buildings; TED Talk – Economic Power of Great Places
  *   Grants & Funding: 250th Grant Opportunity
  *   Tools & Tricks: SPARK Scorecard, 250th Community Engagement, Oregon by the Numbers 2025
OMS Updates:
Reporting Deadline Extension | October 15, 2025
Due to the Oregon Main Street Conference ending on October 10th, the Main Street Track level (Affiliated, Designated, and Accredited) communities will have an extension on their reporting for next month. Just one more excuse to attend the OMS Conference this October!

Conference Updates:
Mary Means Award Winner Sheri Stuart as Keynote Speaker
“Strength in Unity – The Collective Power of Oregon’s Main Streets”
With warmth, insight, and more than 35 years of experience, Sheri will take us on a journey through the evolution of the Oregon Main Street Network since its launch. Through powerful stories and real-world examples, she'll highlight how communities have celebrated wins, tackled tough challenges, and built stronger bonds across the state. Her reflections will shine a light on the transformative power of the Main Street movement—and point us toward the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead for the next generation of thriving downtowns.

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add more Sheri-isms to your repertoire. Register for the OMS Conference today.<https://cvent.me/OMOGN8>

Pre-Conference & Tour Space Still Available
Did you forget to register for a pre-conference session, or decide recently that you wanted to attend a tour? We still have space available in both the Main Street 101 & Storytelling pre-conferences, as well as almost all of the tours.

Stick Around for the Closing-Plenary
“Main Street: Changing Communities One Step at a Time!”
This closing plenary will feature your fellow community-builders sharing about their accomplishments & successes. In Oregon Main Street, it’s true that thriving communities start with a strong, welcoming downtown. Main Street organizations know this work never truly ends—it's ongoing, hands-on, and deeply rewarding. Along the way, we pause to celebrate milestones, recognize achievements, and reflect on how far we've come. Each win—big or small—creates ripples of impact, over time becoming waves of transformation that fuels lasting vibrancy and resilience. Join us for a special celebratory session highlighting the incredible cumulative impact Main Streets make across the state and along the way, discover how every step forward adds up to stronger, healthier communities for us all!

Learning Opportunities:
Additions to Historic Buildings Webinar | Registration Link<https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/r6h3CP5_QR2rYp0_kYhBDg>
Have you ever looked at an older structure and thought, well that piece doesn't quite fit? There are some serious dos and don'ts when it comes to adding on to historic structures to both match character and meet the Secretary of the Interior Standards. Join Joy Sears, Oregon State Historic Preservation Office's Restoration Specialist to discuss best-practices for adding on to your historic home or building.

The Economic Power of Great Places TED Talk – Ilana Pruess | Access Link<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF8B7vpPRiw>
A throwback from our  Mornings on Main presenter from last week. Featured in her earlier career, but still highly relevant today, Ilana Pruess talks about the impacts of investing in your spaces.

Grants & Funding:
250th Grant Opportunity | Access Link<https://www.oregon250.org/america-250-oregon-grant/>
This grant program helps organizations create inclusive, community-focused projects that highlight Oregon’s diverse histories, traditions, and cultures. Grants of up to $5,000. Funding can support events, exhibitions, educational programming, collections
A total of $100,000 in funding is available, with 50% dedicated to rural communities.
development, research, and interpretation. Projects must align with the mission of America 250 Oregon and one or more of its seven guideposts, which are:
• To inspire Oregonians to participate in the work of forming a more perfect union.
• To highlight the importance of civics and history education in building a better future.
• To highlight the work of Oregon’s many history and heritage organizations.
• To encourage a robust, thorough, and honest examination of our collective history.
• To celebrate the unique traditions, arts, and cultures of communities throughout Oregon.
• To honor the service and sacrifice made by Oregon’s veterans.
• To celebrate the power of place through Oregon’s remarkable landscapes and scenic beauty.

Tools & Tricks:
SPARK Scorecard | Access Link<https://scorecard.recastcity.com/>
If you missed last week’s Mornings on Main, you can still get the benefits of seeing your community’s relationship with local small manufacturers & makers. This tool can provide very directed questions to think about with your board or other community leaders to improve your community’s score on this business sector.

250th Community Engagement Ideas from Made By US | Access Link<https://historymadebyus.org/wish-walls>
If your community is looking for an easy way to engage with the America 250 narrative, this Gen Z -based national organization has some suggestions including joining their Wish Wall project. Check it out & see if registering for this would be something of interest in your space!

Oregon by the Numbers 2025 | Access Link<https://www.tfff.org/wp-content/uploads/OBTN_2025-Final.pdf>
How well do you know the demographics and indices of community well-being in your county? Ford Family Foundation puts together an annual report assessing the various factors that make up this measure.

Cheers,
[cid:image001.png at 01DC2C6C.9788FE60]

Cam Amabile, CIT & CIG<https://www.interpnet.com/NAI/interp/Certification/Certification/nai/_certification/Certification_Program_Page.aspx?hkey=238a449c-b3c6-4a93-9ebb-ebaeaef7e29a> (she, her, hers) |  Technical Resources Coordinator
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oregon Heritage, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
schedule: Tuesday – Friday, 7A – 5:30P
cell: (971) 720-8998
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/> or LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/>, Join the Oregon Heritage News e-news<https://omls.oregon.gov/mailman/listinfo/Heritage>.

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