Main Street Now Conference — Tulsa, OK
Last week, representatives from RACC and the Town of Ridgway had the opportunity to attend the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa—an inspiring gathering of local leaders from across the country, all working toward a shared goal: strengthening downtowns and neighborhood business districts through preservation-based economic development.
Over the past several months, our community has been putting in the work. From business owners to creatives to local leaders, there’s been a clear, collective effort to ensure that every voice is heard and every interest is considered. Attending this conference gave us the chance to connect with communities facing similar challenges, exchange ideas, and explore new ways to support vibrant, thriving local economies.
One of the most encouraging takeaways? Ridgway is already ahead of the curve in many ways. Thanks to the dedication of community leaders and residents, we’re doing much of what other small towns aspire to achieve. That said, there’s still more we can do—and more stories we can tell. From our incredible outdoor recreation opportunities to our rich ranching and railroad heritage, and the deep roots of our local Indigenous history, we have so much to celebrate. Continuing to highlight these authentic elements will only strengthen our community and support our local businesses.
From RACC’s perspective, the conference offered valuable insights and practical inspiration. We discovered successful programming models that can help guide both residents and visitors toward our local businesses. We saw creative social media strategies—like those used in Shenandoah, Virginia, which generated over one million Instagram views—that demonstrate the power of storytelling and digital engagement. We also explored how other Main Street programs are helping local makers and businesses collaborate under a unified identity that promotes what’s uniquely “made in” their communities.
We’re already putting these ideas into motion—refining our approach, planning new initiatives, and building on what we’ve learned to better serve Ridgway.
It’s truly an honor to be part of this community. Whether you’ve called Ridgway home for decades or just a few years, your voice matters. Your ideas, feedback, and passion are shaping what comes next.
It’s a great day to be in Ridgway.
