"It just got kind of bland, and storefronts were empty," longtime Hutchinson resident Jim Shimel says.
While Hutchinson's downtown remains a work in progress, Shimel says it has come a long way.
The Kansas Main Street program began in the mid-80s at the same time that a mall and big box stores were going up on the outskirts. Downtown Hutchinson was dying. Since then, vacant old buildings have been restored and put to use. There's also artwork and landscaping. Every other Thursday there are special downtown events such as concerts and car shows.
Downtown Hutchinson development director Jim Seitnater says the Kansas Mainstreet program has helped the city raise nearly $2 million for various improvement projects. The program has also brought leaders together from different communities to brainstorm and share ideas for improving their downtowns.
The Kansas Department of Commerce is ending the 27-year-old program.
Commerce Secretary Pat George announced the discontinuation of the Kansas Main Street program on Thursday, citing the likelihood of smaller state and federal budgets.
The Emporia Gazette reports that Kansas Main Street has 25 member communities.
George said the discontinuation of Kansas Main Street is part of a department restructuring that involves merging the Trade Division with the Business and Community Development Division. Other details were not announced, but The Lawrence Journal-World reports that George said 18 positions are affected.
The secretary also said he believes the agency can continue assisting with downtown redevelopment programs through other department programs.
Seitnater says he was "shocked" when he got word of the shutdown Thursday morning. But, he says Hutchinson and other Kansas towns will find new ways to keep the momentum going in their downtowns.
