Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board members welcomed to town

Main Street Thermopolis hosted the Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board’s May 17 meeting at the Masonic Lodge on Arapahoe Street. The location was specifically chosen because May is Historic Preservation Month as part of the Alliance for Historic Wyoming’s programming to highlight how Wyoming communities show that preservation matters.

Thermopolis, along with Laramie and Rock Springs, was selected to apply for a façade grant through a pilot program of the National Park Service and National Main Street.  Wyoming was one of the four states invited to participate.  The Masonic Lodge applied for and was awarded a grant and through a lengthy process was able to successfully complete the proposed work.  To be eligible for the grant, Meri Ann Dorman explained that “we needed to get the Lodge included in the Historic District, which it was not, and we learned a lot during that application and got it done.”  The attendees on May 17 were enthusiastic about the improvements.

The meeting, which was in person with a zoom opportunity, began with a welcome from Main Street Thermopolis Board members Suzanne Samelson (President), Meri Ann Dorman (Treasurer), and Howie Samelson (member at large) welcoming the Advisory Board members (four in person and three via zoom). Other attendees included Wyoming Business Council’s Kristin Fong, Northwest Regional Director (Hot Springs, Big Horn, Park, and Washakie Counties) and Amber Power, Community Leadership & Engagement Manager; and Megan Stanfill, Executive Director of the Alliance for Historic Wyoming.  Kayla Kler, Wyoming Main Street Program Manager, led and facilitated the meeting.

The Advisory Board members have oversight of the 15-plus Main Street communities and their overall focus is on the revitalization of Wyoming downtowns. Under Kayla Kler’s guidance, the group covered administrative, operational, and policy-related initiatives.  The meeting also included an informal tour of the Downtown Historic District, in between threatening rain, led by Meri Ann.  The afternoon was capped off by a group dinner at One Eyed Buffalo.

The Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board moves their meetings around the state.  The next one will be held in mid-September with the location to be determined.