2020-2021
Annual Report
MERCED MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION
Merced Main Street Association
Annual Report
2020-2021
“To improve the Downtown District through organization, promotion, design and economic stability by fostering a safe, pleasant, diverse retail, and entertainment environment.” MMSA Programs
Façade Improvement Grants
An associate program that provides for the maintenance, rehabilitation, and upgrading of existing commercial properties within the Downtown Merced Business Improvement District (BID). The grant program is intended to stimulate building improvements while being mindful of the historical significance and uniqueness of downtown architecture. This program is designed to enhance the appearance of the district, and indirectly, make a positive statement about Downtown Merced’s business climate.
Celebrate Downtown
A sponsorship program that seeks to encourage community event organizers to consider Downtown Merced for their street fairs, parades, and events by supplementing the costs of insurance and permit fees from the city and county. The program seeks to further establish Downtown Merced as a community space and solidly define the area as Merced’s Arts, Culture, and Entertainment district.
Merced FEAST
Canceled again this year due to Covid.
This event features fares from only Merced County farms, which are artfully prepared by local area chefs, highlighting our wonderful and diverse food cultures of this Central Valley Region. This event is a joint effort of The Merced Certified Farmer’s Market, California Women for Ag, Merced College, UC Merced, Downtown Neighborhood Association, and The Merced Main Street Association, a trade organization with a mission to improve the Downtown District by fostering a safe, pleasant, diverse retail and entertainment environment. A scholarship program created from event proceeds are awarded to students who are pursuing a degree in an Agriculture related field. All AG students in Merced County are eligible for the scholarship.
Merced’s Annual Hometown Christmas Parade
Our annual Christmas Parade has fun vendor booths with activities, food, and various live- entertainment followed by a community Christmas parade. At the end of the parade, we have the lighting of the MERCO Community Christmas tree. The parade brings the whole community and families from all over Merced County and beyond. In 2020, we supported and provided sponsorship for a “reverse Christmas parade” which was very successful.
Programming Highlights:
Façade Improvement Grant Program
C&S Motors
Farmer’s Market
Destino’s
Trevino’s
Rumin’s Auto Body
Bella Luna
Total of $13,896.40 grants for Downtown Businesses
Covid 19 Grants:
Permits for downtown street closures. $500.00
Parkette Grant, Bella Luna. $500.00
Covid Stuff (Table, Chairs, Chemicals, Pop Up tents, etc., for street dining) $850.00 Mercado Advertisement and Insurance. $500.00
ABC Permits, for street dinning $500.00
Total of $2,850.00 grants for Downtown Business.
Celebrate Downtown
Painted Pianos: $600
Dine Downtown: $200
Movie Night: $300
Merced’s Annual Hometown Christmas Parade-Sponsorship and Downtown Decorations Reverse Christmas Parade: $7,276.47
Total Programming Expenses:
$22,272.87
Organizational Expense:
Rent: $8,500
Accounting: $400
Insurance: $2,760.23
MMSA Website: $3,398.79
Miscellaneous: $773.89
Total Organizational Expense: $15,832.91
Merced Painted Piano
Merced’s Annual Hometown (Reverse) Christmas Parade
MMSA Board of Directors
Robert Matsuo, President Joy Alexander, Vice President Andre Santos, Secretary Joe Ramirez, Treasurer
Mike Waite, Eddie Beltran, Chris Bounlangsy, Alex Trevino, Colton Dennis, Tom Leach, Robin Donovan