Connecticut's Northwest Communities to Extend Initiative to Strengthen Main Streets, Village Centers
/Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) has announced the start of the second phase of its partnership with the Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG) through the PROMISE Program, a regional initiative designed to strengthen main streets and village centers through a coordinated effort across twenty-one communities in Northwest Connecticut.
Through this partnership, CMSC will deliver a suite of technical assistance, data collection and analysis, tools, and community capacity‑building workshops that will “help towns develop a clear vision for their village centers and strengthen the local expertise needed to bring that vision to life,” according to CMSC officials.
CMSC will also create detailed inventories of the downtown areas using Ginkgo’s data platform that maps a locality’s properties and uses, building conditions, and businesses, and provide hands‑on training for municipal leaders and volunteers on both the platform and how to use its data to inform future planning.
“Our smaller rural communities benefit from the same access to high‑quality downtown management tools as our larger cities and towns,” said CMSC Executive Director Michelle McCabe. “NHCOG is taking a thoughtful, phased approach to their regional revitalization, and we’re proud to help them deepen this work. By equipping local teams with data, training, and ongoing support, we’re helping these towns move from aspiration to implementation to reach their individual goals, while simultaneously tying into a larger regional strategy.”
The PROMISE Program is structured around four phases—Crawl, Walk, Run, and Race—allowing communities to progress at a pace that reflects their current main street management status and unique needs. CMSC completed Phase 1 of the partnership in 2025, conducting Readiness Assessments in seventeen towns and delivering introductory workshops. The new agreement between CMSC and NHCOG launches Phase 2, which focuses on building a strong foundation for implementation by:
Creating GIS‑based downtown inventories that map key assets, businesses, parcels, and opportunities
Conducting on‑the‑ground validation and visioning with local partners
Training NHCOG staff and community stakeholders to maintain and use the Ginkgo platform
Delivering customized workshops to strengthen local Main Street teams and expand regional downtown management capacity
“Main Streets are the heart of our communities, and CMSC’s expertise is invaluable as we work to support all twenty-one towns in our region,” said Rista Malanca, NHCOG’s Director of Community & Economic Development. “This partnership gives our municipalities access to nationally recognized best practices and the tools they need to plan effectively, secure funding, and ultimately implement transformative projects.”
PROMISE is designed with the predominantly rural character of the Northwest Hills in mind, where some communities have traditional Main Streets while others have village centers or emerging hubs of activity, officials explained. Any area identified locally as a community’s “Main Street” will be eligible for services.
CMSC’s involvement is aimed at assisting NHCOG in building a sustainable, region‑wide approach to downtown revitalization—one that strengthens local capacity, identifies shared opportunities, and supports long‑term economic resilience.
“Every community deserves a vibrant, welcoming downtown,” added Ms. McCabe. “CMSC has long supported individual communities in supporting that goal. PROMISE offers a truly innovative approach to our work by seeking to connect the individual vision of each community within the overall strategy for a region. We’re excited to continue this partnership and help the Northwest Hills region build the tools, knowledge, and momentum needed to make that vision a reality.”
