Dear CAMS Community
Left to right: Amanda Elliott; Coachella City Hall (Courtesy: City of Coachella).
CAMS Connection | Spring 2024
By: Amanda Elliott, Senior Program Officer and Director of California Programs, Main Street America
Hello CAMS family,
We’re setting the stage for an exciting season.
CAMS Advocacy Day at the capital was a big success. The day’s meetings were part of our organization’s multi-year effort to raise our profile and build CAMS advocacy muscle. Connecting with state representatives helps us begin to make the case for sustained funding for Main Street programs.
As part of our lawmaker meet and greets, we connected with Assemblymember Matt Haney’s office regarding the newly-formed Select Committee on Downtown Recovery. The Select Committee was created to address the challenges and losses many districts have experienced related to the pandemic. We intend to stay engaged with their efforts and provide suggestions and insights specific to the needs in our communities. Join us in our advocacy efforts - reach out to your elected officials and invite them for a district tour!
The CAMS Board of Directors recently met for a strategic planning session led by Kathy La Plante of Main Street America. We reviewed feedback from a CAMS member survey and began drafting a new multi-year work plan for the organization. Some exciting changes are under consideration. Stay tuned!
If you're in the neighborhood, join me in Petaluma on May 15th at 6:30 p.m. for a discussion on Placemaking, Preservation, and Tourism hosted by the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum.
Let’s keep the main street movement rolling!
In partnership,
Amanda