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CITY OF BOSTON
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
BOSTONMAIN STREETS DESIGNATION

The City of Boston through its Public Facilities Commission, by the Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development is accepting applications for neighborhood business districts to begin participating in Boston Main Streets in Fiscal Year 2010.  Neighborhoods must comply with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) low-moderate income guidelines and will be selected competitively for participation.

The Boston Main Streets Program is a public-private initiative of the City of Boston and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to bring the Main Streets strategy for commercial district revitalization to Boston’s many neighborhood business districts.

The Main Streets program focuses its efforts on providing merchant groups and community residents with tools and information necessary for their historic commercial center to compete in today’s marketplace.  The program helps neighborhood Main Streets organizations capitalize on their unique historical, cultural, and architectural assets while also addressing the many economic development needs around small business retention and recruitment in light of strong competition from shopping malls and discount retailers.

The Department of Neighborhood Development will sponsor an Education Session and Application workshop.  Interested individuals may attend the pre-application workshop on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at 26 Court Street, 11th Floor Conference Room, Boston, MA.  The workshop will provide an overview of the Main Streets program and detailed information on the application process.  For more information on the pre-application workshop, contact Patricia Connolly at (617) 635-0115.  Attendance at the workshop is not mandatory, but communities that attend will be duly noted during the selection process.

The Request for Proposals application package will be available beginning Monday, August 24, 2009 at the Department of Neighborhood Development, Bid Counter, 10th Floor, 26 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108.  Completed applications must be returned in a sealed envelope labeled “Boston Main Streets” and submitted directly to the Department of Neighborhood Development, Bid Counter, 10th Floor, 26 Court Street, Boston, MA by Monday, November 16, 2009, no later than 4:00 PM.  LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  Responder presentations will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009.

If you have any questions about the application or about Boston Main Streets, or need assistance, please contact Stephen Gilman, Boston Main Streets, City of Boston, Department of Neighborhood Development at (617) 635-0076.

Evelyn Friedman
Chief and Director

PLEASE NOTE:  Bid Counter hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon and
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.  Please plan accordingly.