The difference between Ashland, Virginia and Laramie, Wyoming are many. After visiting Virginia for a few days for the National Main Street Conference in May 2022, I was ready to move to Ashland – a train town with a small college, a cozy down town with locally owned shops and restaurants, a recently renovated historic theater, and amazing historic houses with reasonable asking price. What kept me from packing up my bags and becoming a southerner was the fact that Ashland was not a 2022 GAMSA (Great American Main Street Award) winner…and the eerie similarities of the two towns telling me I’m right where I need to be.
“ I am proud to serve on the LMSA board and hope that we can continue to make downtown Laramie the character-filled heart of the town where we have all chosen to live. ”
As I sat in the auditorium next to staff, board members, and volunteers of Laramie Main Street Association (LMSA) watching the highlight video of downtown Laramie aerial and street views accompanied by interviews from some amazing locals and the LMSA director, tears filled my eyes as I realized the immense amount of work that has gone into making Laramie “great”. I am proud to serve on the LMSA board and hope that we can continue to make downtown Laramie the character-filled heart of the town where we have all chosen to live. Some of the other lessons I learned while at the conference are those of the importance of storytelling, supporting the LMSA staff, and bonding with fellow board members.
I think there are stories that have yet to be told about downtown – stories of childhood memories, first dates, and making new friends. These stories are what keep people coming back and supporting the local restaurants, bars, and shops while enjoying a street dance or carnival ride on a summer night, celebrating the win of a UW sports team during the school year, preparing for the holidays, or commemorating graduation in the spring. As LMSA staff members plan events and support the places where memories are made, my fellow board members are committed to ensuring they have what they need to do their jobs and come to work with energy and ideas.
In short, my time at the conference helped me become a more dedicated board member with a stronger appreciation for the level of dedication members of the Laramie community have for supporting small business owners to make downtown not just a place, but an experience that is memorable. I think Laramie might just be a place other people visit and leave with a yearning to move here.
“In short, my time at the conference helped me become a more dedicated board member with a stronger appreciation for the level of dedication members of the Laramie community have for supporting small business owners to make downtown not just a place, but an experience that is memorable. I think Laramie might just be a place other people visit and leave with a yearning to move here.”
