Less than a half hour from Austin lies a bustling urban center known as the City of Bastrop. The Bastrop Main Street Program is expanding its presence in the Central Texas region.
Launched in 2007, the program is part of the larger nonprofit Main Street America, which was founded in the 1980s to revitalize downtown areas that were previously neglected.
Downtown Bastrop encompasses a 62-block radius that extends far beyond what is considered a normal downtown area. The Bastrop Main Street Program’s motto is “Eat, Play, Drink and Shop” and encompasses everything the area has to offer residents and visitors.
“Downtown is not just one thing or just one street,” said manager Michaela Joyce. “You can come downtown for anything and everything. You can live downtown. You can eat downtown. You can have fun since you’re right on the river, and so much more. Since our district is pretty big, there really are so many things to do and explore.”
Since its inception in 2007, the program has reduced vacant properties downtown, resulting in a more vibrant Main Street that serves as a gathering place and unique destination.
A key part of the Bastrop Main Street program is the extensive volunteer program behind it. There are three committees that residents can apply to serve on, all of which help in different ways within the program.
The committees:
- Promotion Committee: focuses on event planning and marketing
- Economic Vitality Committee: focuses on business support, recruitment and retention
- Design Committee: focuses on the exterior beautification of the city center
These committees all work together to create a thriving downtown. None is more important than the other; each of them plays their part in having a successful program. To learn more or to sign up for a committee, visit their website.
Joyce is dedicated to raising awareness of the program and really showcasing what Downtown Bastrop has to offer. Recently, two businesses on Bastrop Main Street were awarded the Backing Small Businesses grant, which was given in partnership with American Express and Main Street America. The two businesses, Chubby’s Barbershop and Store House Market & Eatery, each received $10,000 to promote their businesses. This was a national grant opportunity with only 500 selected for it.
Downtown Bastrop is always ready to accommodate more businesses and more visitors to help the area thrive and grow.
“Austin has grown so much, which is great, but we are able to be a unique day trip destination,” Joyce said. “Bastrop is growing significantly and very quickly, but I think the really cool thing about our exciting growth is that we are still staying true to our uniqueness. We haven’t lost our small-town feel. Even though our population is growing, we still feel like a small, tight-knit community that welcomes tourism with open arms.”
Want to learn more about the City of Bastrop and its downtown? Visit the website or stop by in town.
The above story was produced by Sierra Rozen, Senior Multi Platform Journalist at Community Impact, and contains information provided solely by the local business as part of our advertising team’s purchase of “sponsored content.”
