Nebraska City Main Street leaders told city commissioners Sept. 2 the group is organizing and preparing for a successful downtown revitalization effort.

Vic Johns and David Partsch, members of the group’s executive board, said the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s program has a proven record of achievement and has been a positive for Nebraska City since it was adopted here in the fall of 2007.

A $30,000 grant from an Otoe County economic development loan program and $30,000 from Nebraska City’s LB840 program funded the program for two years.

Parks Commissioner Leon Schiermeyer, a member of the Main Street committee, said the board expects the program to continue beyond its remaining year of funding.

Schiermeyer said volunteers have been invited to serve on committees that will focus on downtown marketing, building designs and business development and retention. He said the executive board is establishing priorities and he is looking forward to seeing the goals the committees set for the coming year.

Partsch said more volunteers are welcome. “Our board can’t do this by ourselves,” he said.

Accomplishments in the first year include Main Street training for executive board members, participating in an application for $250,000 in grant funds from the state Department of Economic Development, involvement with the farmers market and lemon days and organizing visits by Gordon Sholtz of the University of Nebraska Lincoln School of Architecture.

Expenses totaling $14,868 have included $7,990 for payroll, $1,500 for Main Street membership and $1,329 for office equipment. Payroll is $3,000 below budget after the resignation of Kay Young, Main Street manager, in August.

After a year into the program, Main Street gave its first quarterly report to the city council saying the board is encouraged by positive partnerships with Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce, River Country Economic Development Corporation and the city.