HARTFORD – Liberty Bank Foundation awarded Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) a $10,000 grant to support its Education & Training for Main Street Professionals, a six-month suite of programs designed to build the skills, capacity, and career pathways needed to sustain downtowns across the state.
While downtowns serve as major economic engines and community gathering places, most municipalities lack the dedicated staff needed to manage them effectively. In many towns, the work of maintaining a thriving main street falls to volunteers or part‑time employees without access to specialized training or a sustainable organizational structure.
The Liberty Bank Foundation grant addresses this challenge in communities statewide by providing opportunities for professional development and education on best practices in main street management.
CMSC Executive Director Michelle McCabe expressed gratitude for the Liberty Bank Foundation’s investment.
“Creating and maintaining a vibrant downtown is a full‑time job requiring professional expertise,” she said. “This grant allows us to build a workforce pipeline for the next generation of main street leaders — people who can support local businesses, strengthen community identity, and drive economic growth.”
The suite of programs combines webinars and an in-person workshop focused on building and funding a main street organization capable of supporting paid staff. Participants will learn best practices in economic development, community engagement, budgeting, and fund development. The curriculum responds directly to CMSC’s annual member survey, in which 90% of communities identified low capacity and funding challenges as a top concern.
“This program will ensure that local leaders have the skills and tools they need to create and sustain strong and vibrant downtowns,” said Liberty Bank President and CEO David W. Glidden, who is also president of the foundation. “This is important to both our community and the overall economy, and we are proud to support this initiative.”
The program is expected to engage participants from communities across the state, with follow‑up evaluation to measure skills gained, new practices adopted, and progress toward establishing or strengthening local main street organizations.
“The Liberty Bank Foundation’s partnership helps us meet communities where they are and give them the tools to grow,” McCabe said. “This investment will help ensure that Connecticut’s downtowns—large and small—have the professional support they need to thrive.”
