To share Kendall Whittier’s success stories in light of recent award, Kendall Whittier Main Street Executive Director Jessica Jackson Seay will speak at the Main Street Now national conference next week.

Main Street Now, hosted by the National Main Street Center, is virtual this year and will take place on April 12-14. Jackson Seay will speak on Monday afternoon during a Tactical Solution Session.

She will highlight the program’s success that led to a Great American Main Street Award in 2020 and discuss how the community and organization navigated their COVID-19 pandemic response to keep businesses in afloat.

“We had two goals when the pandemic hit Tulsa in March of 2020. No. 1 was to ensure no Kendall Whittier business shuttered for good due to COVID-19 and number two, to keep Kendall Whittier in the public’s mind,” Jackson Seay explained.

With those two goals in mind, the program launched an #ilubkdub social media campaign and raised more than $30,000 for a Rent Relief Program. Additionally, Main Street launched children’s activity sheets and helped provide information on federal loans and best practices to businesses and property owners, among other projects.

“Even though we didn’t really have any events last summer, we stayed busy at Main Street supporting businesses and laying groundwork for successful growth in the future,” Jackson Seay said.

Jackson Seay has previously spoken at an Oklahoma Preservation Conference, but this is her first national presentation.

“I was honored to be considered as a speaker this year and help share what did — and what didn’t — work for us with other Main Street communities across the country,” Jackson Seay said. “I hope our experience can inspire other directors, municipalities and partners to fight for their businesses and their main streets.”

Registration for Main Street Now is open with pricing ranging from $25 for small businesses, $50 for students and civic leaders to $199 for non-member registration. The three main themes of the conference are Recovery and Resilience, Equity and Inclusion and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Kendall Whittier Main Street is one of three programs to be named a 2020 Great American Main Street. It is a nonprofit organization that inspires the ongoing revitalization and growth of a historic and cultural neighborhood in Tulsa, striving to transform it back to a thriving, walkable commercial district.

For more information about the Kendall Whittier Main Street, please call or text 918-633-1934 or email info@visitkendallwhittier.com.

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