August 10 Meeting 

Main Street Gardnerville is affectionately called the "kumbaya" organization - they support small businesses with a very small paid staff (Jen and her assistant) and a huge volunteer staff.  Their mission is to revitalize and preserve downtown Gardnerville utilizing design, organization and promotion.  It is a 501(3)(3) organization that relies on donations and volunteers.  They should not be confused with the Chamber of Commerce.

The organization has been in existence for 15 years and in 2017 became the only accredited Main Street program in Nevada.  In 2021 the organization was adopted into the 5 year Douglas County plan.

Fundraising allows for hosting of numerous events including:

 - Third Thursday Wine Walk

 - Summer Farmers Market

 - Monthly Wind Down Events

 - Heritage Park Gardens

 - Sweep the Town District Cleanup

 - Facade Improvement

 - Annual Slaughterhouse Case Coffin Races and Fall Festival

 - Paint the Town Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative 

 - Freedom Festival 5k Fun Run

 - Wreaths Across America Ceremony

 - Dia De Los Muertos Festival

Other activities include:

 - Main Street in Bloom (hanging flower baskets created by FFA at Douglas and Smith High Schools as well as China Spring Youth Camp).  884 baskets cultivated and 777 adopt a pot to date.

 - Heritage Park Gardens (56 growing beds 100% developed and maintained by volunteers with hopes of adding raised beds in the future)

 - Public Art (5 public art pieces, 30 commemorative benches and 7 bike racks in the community).

Over the past 15 years, they have tracked 58,094 volunteer hours (a value of $1,266,196).

The Facade Improvement Grant Program started last year with 8 businesses.  The mission is to improve the appearance and functionality of commercial buildings downtown through improvement and preservation  The grant offers a 50/50 match for high quality, cost effective improvements to the building exterior.  Last year 6 businesses applied and were approved for a matching grant:

 - Especially For You (Storage)

 - Mr. Bubbles Laundromat (Signage)

 - Leah's Perfect Rose (Windows)

 - Historian Inn (Walkway Lighting)

 - Fabric Chicks (Exterior Paint/Dry rot Repair)

 - Fresh Ideas (Windows)

Four businesses have been awarded grants for the 2023-24 year and there is still money left.  There is more information on the Main Street website if you know of an interested business.  Also in 2024, will be a project to help flatten the S curve on 395 through Gardnerville.

Rotary involvement with Main Street could include a bench, a bike rack or the Children's Garden.

"Experience the Past,

Enrich the Present,

Embrace the Future"

- Jen Nalder