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Hispanic Heritage on Main St.10 Ways to Connect Main Street and Hispanic Communities

Hispanic business owners can help revitalize once-forsaken downtowns. Encourage entrepreneurs to re-use empty storefronts when building new businesses.

1. Spot economic opportunities.

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Offer tailored, on-site bilingual group training and one-on-one assistance programs designed for small businesses. It’s a greater investment of time and resources, but yields proven results.

2. Get hands-on.

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A truly inclusive Main Street program needs to involve Hispanic community members on a planning level, whether through representation on the board of directors, partnerships, or volunteers.

3. Start at the very beginning…

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Not all Hispanic business owners might be comfortable or familiar with non-profit organization planning. It might make more sense to start with the group that needs more coaching, and then strategically bring other groups in as people build trust in the organization.

4. … and start small.

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Direct rather than indirect forms of communication work well with the Hispanic community. Have face-to-face meetings or visit individual businesses, instead of relying solely on email or phone calls.

5. Take it offline.

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Special events that celebrate important Hispanic holidays and festivals are a highly visible way for a Main Street program to appeal to its Hispanic constituents – and build a volunteer base, too.

6. Throw a party!

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Make sure everyone can understand flyers, posters, and other promotional materials. It helps people feel more welcome and invited.

7. Go bilingual in Spanish.

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The language barrier can go both ways. Help Hispanic merchants translate and put up signs and menus in both languages to broaden their customer base.

8. Go bilingual in English.

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Sometimes new business owners have design ideas or artistic preferences that clash with the existing built environment. Bring in architects and interior designers to work with individual businesses and educate business owners about preserving the community’s architectural heritage.

9. Balance preservation with cultural aesthetics.

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Diverse ethnicities, nationalities, beliefs, and cultures are combined under the umbrella terms “Hispanic” and “Latino.” Learn your town’s particular makeup and needs so you can implement initiatives that will best help local entrepreneurs grow their businesses and participate in downtown activities.

10. Know your community’s makeup.

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Check out National Trust Main Street Center’s full Story of the Week, America in Translation: Hispanic Heritage on Main Street.

Want to read the full article?

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Ten on Tuesday features ten preservation tips each week. For more tips, visit blog.PreservationNation.org.