Our Mission

Charleston West Side Main Street is dedicated to the revitalization of West Side business corridor and envisions a vibrant commercial district with a proud heritage and warm community spirit in the heart of the city. Charleston West Side Main Street will cultivate a sense of community by encouraging economic growth and preserving our commercial and residential resources.

Four Point Approach

Not unlike the 1,800 Main Street programs across the country, the West Side Main Street program implements a "Four-Point Approach" of community development in its revitalization efforts. The "Four-Points" are implemented by four independent, volunteer-driven committees which are the heart and soul of this civic organization.

Organization Committee
Committee goal: To facilitate effective, collaborative partnerships among diverse public- and private-sector entities in support of the West Side Main Street mission. The Organization Committee's continued partnerships with other economic development entities, local and state governments and the private sector enhance its ability to strive to fulfill the organizations mission. The committee focuses on increasing the organization's membership and funding sources.

Promotion Committee
Committee goal: To create a positive image for Charleston's West Side in order to attract customers and investors and to rekindle community pride west of the Elk River. This committee plans an annual calendar of events to benefit the West Side including retail sales activities, image campaigns, and special events and initiatives, while maintaining other promotional strategies such as cooperative advertising opportunities. This committee is responsible for hosting the popular Wiener Dog Race and Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social each year during Festivall and for special events such as the Winter Basket GiveAway and the OktoberWest fall celebration.

Design Committee
Committee goal: To enhance the appearance of Charleston's West Side by encouraging the restoration of commercial property, improving storefronts and signage, maintaining and creating green space, controlling litter and accomplishing other tasks to enhance the areas' aesthetic appeal. This committee has been instrumental in facilitating West Side Main Street's designation as an "Adopt-A-Highway" organization and in implementing the façade renovation grant program.

Economic Restructuring
Committee goal: To diversify and strengthen the West Side's existing economic base through development and implementation of business retention and recruitment strategies, while maintaining a policy of adaptive re-use. This Committee works closely with our existing West Side businesses and provides a hearty-welcome to businesses making their home in our community. This committee is responsible for maintaining the West Side Business Directory and for updating the list of available property on the West Side business corridor.

Accomplishments

• Since 2005, Charleston West Side Main Street has facilitated reinvestment in the area west of the Elk River of several million dollars through private and public sector entities. Its efforts have led to the establishment of new businesses and the historical restoration of several commercial structures along the West Washington Street business corridor.
  
  
• Initiation and maintenance of effective partnerships with numerous private and public-sector entities such as the City of Charleston, West Virginia State University Extension, Kanawha County, the Charleston Area Alliance, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, BB&T, the West Side Neighborhood Association, the East End Main Street program, Main Street West Virginia and many others has been accomplished.
  
  
• A master streetscape plan to improve the sidewalks, crosswalks, and greenspace along Washington Street has been developed and we are currently in the process of seeking the funding for this multi million dollar project.
  
  
• Plans are also underway to begin work on a park on the corner of Washington St. West and Barton Street that will serve the surrounding neighborhood and improve the appearance of a vacant lot.
  
  
• The façade grant program has been implemented to assist business owners with renovations to their building facades. Grants of up to $5000 have been awarded to business owners utilizing funds obtained from the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority and the WV Legislature through the Community Participation Grant.
  
  
• Free design assistance provided by a Main Street West Virginia consultant has been utilized by numerous business owners to help them plan their renovations and improve the look of their storefront and surrounding property.
  
  
• Educational workshops for business owners have been provided both in person and by webinar to improve their business skills and help them compete with larger retailers.
  
  
• Several successful image campaigns have been implemented to showcase the West Side of Charleston. Included in those campaigns are: holiday decorations along the Washington St. corridor, a Winter Basket give away for shoppers who frequent West Side merchants, a Wiener Dog race and Ice Cream Social for the community during Festivall, and a fall celebration of OktoberWest.