Really Cool Projects in Really Cool Places--Main Street, LLC: Perry, NY

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to see so many special places. Over the last several years, I've watched communities rally around a wide variety of challenges and opportunities. Really Cool Projects in Really Cool Places seeks to capture the energy and ingenuity of these special places and the fruits of their inspired efforts.

It's no secret that my heart is in downtown...not any particular downtown, but downtowns everywhere. Downtown revitalization represents one of the most resilient economic development strategies out there. Vibrant downtowns don't rely on a single, silver bullet to address community challenges; but moreover, benefit from stacks and stacks of micro-investments, resulting in a diverse set of businesses and residents that tend to stand the tests of shifting economic winds.

Getting to a vibrant downtown isn't easy. Those micro-investments take intense curation and cultivation. In a traditional sense, a smaller investment can really only address a smaller challenge. Real innovation means pointing the passion of dozens of those locally-harvested investors toward something more than low-hanging fruit.

Welcome to Perry, New York.

Perry's downtown was experiencing the troubles inherent in many downtowns stories--with maybe a few more opportunities. An economic boom of earlier times had created the amazing bones of a central business district. Globalization of industry, and the general hollowing out of the Rust Belt's economic framework brought disinvestment and vacancy to the once bustling downtown. But Perry had some aces up its sleeves--the most visited state park in the northeast (Letchworth), a gorgeous natural water body (Silver Lake), and a set of enthusiastic residents who shared a vision for a vital economic center.

But not everyone shared that vision. A local architect and dairy farmer (now Mayor Rick Hauser), and several others had sought financing from area banks to spark Perry's architectural renaissance. The banks balked. After enough rejection letters, Hauser and crew said the heck with it. They decided to finance it themselves.

A dozen (now dozens) of local investors pooled their resources to buy a building (now buildings), and formed "Perry Main Street, LLC." Shares in the LLC were sold around the community. Buy a share, buy a block of shares. Contribute cash, contribute valuable trades and services. Whatever you can contribute is valued. This crew of investors began turning around buildings to amazing results. Storefronts filled up, apartments were built and quickly rented, and vibrancy returned to downtown Perry.

Mayor Hauser has taken this concept on the road. He showcases the Main Street, LLC idea to struggling communities around the country--noting that you can put the destiny of your hometown in your own hands.

What's Cool About this Project: In addition to downtowns, I'm a big fan of collective impact--the notion that, if we all point our passion and resources at a shared set of community challenges, virtually anything is possible. Perry didn't wait for the cavalry, Perry is the cavalry. The bulk of the successes in Perry come from the innovation, ingenuity, and just plain hard work of the community itself.

What's Cool About this Place: Situated in the heart of New York's Genesee Valley, Perry offers a diverse and engaging central business district, energized by local businesses and regional festivals like Shake on the Lake (a locally-developed Shakespeare event, presented in an amazing Village park), the Chalk Art Festival (exactly what it sounds like), and the New York State Puppet Festival (!).

Have you been inspired by a particular project or place? I'd love to hear about it. Drop me a message, or email me at [email protected].