A recent Roanoke Times article gave newly hired executive director Katie McElroy an opportunity to promote the  work of the Community Partnership for Revitalization, the nonprofit organization that coordinates Rocky Mount’s uptown and downtown revitalization efforts.

The article, “Future the Focus in Rocky Mount”, spotlighted McElroy, who used the media’s interest in her hiring to get word out about the organization’s strategies for the future.

Main Street managers play a critical role in communicating their organizational message, and thinking through the specific, relevant points in context of a broader public relations strategy is an important preparation step just prior to an interview with a reporter.

Here are two tools to help any Main Street stay on message: Leveraging Public Relations to Promote your Main Street, an October 2008 article from Main Street News, and The Strategic Communications Plan Template, from The Spin Project.

Congratulations to Katie for a successful first Main Street interview.  Don’t forget to share your downtown revitalization media coverage with Virginia Main Street by e-mailing: Douglas.Jackson@dhcd.virginia.gov.