HARTFORD – The Main Street Accelerator program in the state will receive $25,000 from Webster Bank as part of a grant, according to its parent Connecticut Main Street Center.
“Webster Bank has supported CMSC’s efforts to add vibrancy to our downtowns for years,” said Michelle McCabe, CMSC’s Executive Director. “So, having them invest in the Main Street Accelerator program specifically is a generous extension of their commitment to main street. The banking community plays such an important role in village centers and downtowns everywhere by providing financial instruments for residents, property owners, and small businesses that make up a thriving main street.”
Launched in 2024, the Accelerator program trains local teams from communities across Connecticut to implement small-scale projects that make incremental positive change in their downtowns. Teams that successfully complete a six-month course are eligible for a grant up to $5,000 towards the completion of their project. The Webster Bank funds both support the Accelerator program and go towards those grants.
The 2025 Main Street Accelerator Cohort is comprised of teams from Bethel, Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District, East Hartford, and Enfield. It includes instruction on the nationally proven Four Point Approach to Main Street management: community engagement, team management, program evaluation, and fundraising.
The teams will showcase their projects during CMSC’s State of Main event on June 18 in Waterbury. They will also be recognized by CMSC and Webster Bank for completing the course.
“The 2025 Cohort has put a lot of time and effort into learning how to work together, how to strategically plan for and execute their project, and how to build community support for it, so it’s really nice to see Webster Bank reinforce their efforts with this funding,” said Kristen Lopez, the Accelerator program’s senior director of programs.
The bank’s support of such programs is part of a strategy to create economic vitality where small businesses, families, and individuals can thrive, according to Marissa Weidner, chief corporate responsibility officer at Webster Bank.
“We’re proud to support CMSC’s Main Street Accelerator program where local teams can learn to create, measure, and maintain positive change,” she said.
To date, CMSC and funding partners Chelsea Groton Foundation and Thomaston Savings Bank have awarded $15,000 in grant funds to three 2024 Main Street Accelerator teams from Georgetown, Norwich, and Thomaston. The Accelerator program serves as a complement to CMSC’s Main Street Management Assessment, where communities are scored on over 85 data points annually. After assessing a community’s strengths and needs, CMSC provides specific recommendations and resources to improve the downtown. The Accelerator program provides communities with an opportunity to focus on a specific recommendation or priority area identified through the Assessment.
