• Introduction
• The Corporate Buddy Role
• Baseline Requirements
• Main Street District Responsibilities
• BMS Corporate Buddies

The Boston Main Streets program is the first in the country to include a strong partnership component between its local Main Street Districts and corporations with a presence in the community. BMS corporate Buddies aim to:

1. Maximize the effectiveness of the local Main Streets program
2. Deepen corporate commitment to the communities in which they do business
3. Create opportunities for collaboration and shared responsibility between corporations and local merchants
4. Enhance the quality of life for residents by offering added services, a higher community profile and a deeper investment in the community

In addition to the financial commitment of the Corporate Buddy ($5,000- $10,000 per year for four years) each Corporate Buddy is expected to provide resources and access to resources that assist their partner Main Street towards the goal of self-sufficiency.

Below is a set of baseline requirements for participation in the Boston Main Street Corporate Buddy program. Each corporation that agrees to be paired with a Boston Main Street district must agree with the standards in theory and strive to meet or exceed all baseline standards within the parameters of their abilities.

1. Serve as a member of the local Main Streets Board of Directors
2. Commit a minimum of six hours per month to Main Street activities through a corporate liason
3. Play an active leadership role in local Main Streets fundraising activities
4. Provide access to resources needed to develop a marketing plan
5. Provide services by in-house marketing department or consultants to accomplish goals of the marketing plan
6. Provide access to resources to produce marketing materials
7. Provide technical assistance to develop business plans for local businesses
8. Create volunteer opportunities for neighborhood-based employees and include Main Streets as a priority volunteer activity at the corporate level
9. Where possible, supply the Main Street organization with office equipment such as computers, software and FAX machine and facilitate in kind contributions as needed
10. Participate with representatives of other Corporate Buddies in an annual meeting with the City of Boston to discuss progress of Main Street districts within a city-wide context.

While each Corporate Buddy agrees to the above requirements, there are a number of important elements to be carried out by the local Main Street manager and the local Board of Directors.

• Introduce the Corporate Buddy to the Main Street Community. In most cases, the representative of the corporation will be familiar with the Main Street Community. However, the corporation may not have knowledge of the business district's concerns and work plans. The Main Street program will introduce its Corporate Buddy representatives to the Board of Directors and offer a tour of the district.
  
  
• Communication. Each Main Street districts's Corporate Buddy representative should have a seat on the Board of Directors. The Board is a primary link to organizational communication in the Main Street program. Any press releases or initiatives should be forwarded to the Corporate Buddy.
  
  
• Public Relations. Corporate Buddy support is crucial to the Main Street Programs. It is important for the Main Street district to adequately acknowledge the participation of its Corporate Buddy. The Corporate Buddy logo should appear on all promotional items released by the Main Street district.

Boston Main Streets Corporate Buddies 2007

All Checks Cashed
Bank of America
Banknorth
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
Brigham & Women?s Hospital
CVS
Capital Crossing
Citizens Bank
Commonwealth Cooperative Bank
Countrywide Home Loans
Hyde Park Savings Bank
Mt. Washington Bank
Neighborhood Health Plan
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
NStar
Sovereign Bank
Staples
Teradyne
Trinity Financial
Verizon