Advocates for Connecticut Cities & Towns and Downtowns Forge New Collaboration

Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM). have entered into a strategic partnership, which the organizations say will result in new educational programming for town officials seeking municipal certification, increased communication between the organizations’ constituencies, and strengthened advocacy on behalf of statewide membership in  downtown organizations.

“When you see how closely our missions align, it makes perfect sense that we would partner to bring each of our respective strengths to the table to help the other’s membership,” said Patrick McMahon, CMSC CEO. “We know CCM is looking to us to share our downtown expertise as a way to provide more value to their members around economic development and we look forward to learning more about their communities’ individual needs.”

“This strategic partnership is driven by the recognition that downtowns, village centers and mixed-use commercial districts are critical to local economies,” said Joseph DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO.

In a collaboration designed to benefit Connecticut’s municipalities and downtowns, CMSC will offer its expertise in educating communities on the many components of a vibrant downtown through customized webinars and exclusive conversations with industry experts for CCM members.

CMSC will also utilize its extensive communication channels to increase awareness of CCM’s offerings amongst its network of downtown professionals, municipal officials and key state, local and private sector leaders as CCM provides services that can benefit Connecticut’s downtowns and Main Streets.

In addition to its municipal certification, for example, CCM offers data and research-gathering to support economic development efforts. CCM can provide local officials with research on a variety of topics to help enable job creation and business growth.

“We want to be good partners to economic development officials,” said George Rafael, CCM Director, Municipal Resource and Service Center.

The strategic partnership will also allow CMSC to capitalize on CCM’s extensive advocacy work. While CMSC is a vocal champion on behalf of its members, its small staff will be able to take advantage of CCM’s strong ties to state legislators to amplify its efforts in advocating for downtown and economic development policies and programs that help downtowns thrive. 

CCM is the state’s largest, nonpartisan organization of municipal leaders, representing towns and cities of all sizes from all corners of the state, with 169 member municipalities.  CMSC, which functions as the “statewide champion for downtowns and Main Streets of all sizes across Connecticut,” is an “expert resource for developing and sustaining vibrant downtowns that fuel our state’s prosperity.”