Main Street wins grant from state program

With construction on Highway 395 wrapping up, Main Street Gardnerville is preparing for the next step in efforts to revitalize downtown business after months of disruption.

One proposed project is on the empty parcels across Eddy Street from JT Basque Bar & Dining Room.

Main Street Gardnerville Director Jen Tune told Gardnerville Town Board members last week that she envisions an open air market on the site once Sierra Nevada Construction vacates the property

Main Street received a $22,050 U.S. Department of Agriculture rural business development grant for a conceptual design on the parcels.

On Aug. 8, the Nevada Main Street Program under the Governor’s Office of Economic Development announced Gardnerville’s program received $50,000 for the open-air market, the Heritage Park Gardens and the façade improvement grant program.

“We are absolutely thrilled about these upcoming projects and can’t wait to get started,” Tune said on Friday. “We want to express our gratitude to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, especially Nevada Main Street and Shari Davis for prioritizing this funding opportunity for our communities.”

Tune said the funding was the first major round from the state program since it was established seven years ago.

Gardnerville’s Main Street program was the first in the state and is Nevada’s only accredited program, according to Tune. Nevada has 28 Main Street programs in varied states of development, she said.

The state funded 23 of the 40 requested projects as part of the 2024 Nevada Main Street Grant Program, according to last week’s announcement. At least one project was approved in each of the 16 communities that applied, totaling $662,955 in awarded funds.

“This is a major breakthrough as Nevada Main Street has not had a budget to support the Main Street Communities until now,” Tune said. “We are hopeful that this success will pave the way for future funding for this exceptional program.”

Main Street Gardnerville was founded in 2008 during the Great Recession in an effort to revitalize downtown.

“With additional funding provided through the governor and legislature in the last session, Nevada Main Street was able to offer a grant program to local Main Street organizations for projects that will create positive change in their communities,” said Davis, GOED’s director of rural economic and community development.

“I am continually impressed by the creativity, tenacity and dedication of our Main Street organizations, and I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact as these projects are completed.”

Nevada Main Street facilitates historic preservation, community development, beautification and economic vitality.

“Nevada’s rural communities are the heart of our state, and the Nevada Main Street program is crucial in ensuring their growth and revitalization,” said Gov. Joe Lombardo. “By funding these initiatives, we are fostering economic prosperity for our state. I am excited to see the transformative impact these projects will have across Nevada.”