Raton MainStreet Vying for $25K Cash Prize in National Contest Recognizing America’s Main Streets and their “Road to Recovery”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Inquiries:

Brenda Ferri

575-445-2052

bferri@ratonmainstreet.org

Raton MainStreet Vying for $25K Cash Prize in National Contest Recognizing America’s Main Streets and their “Road to Recovery”

Vote now to advance RATON MAINSTREET to the next round

Raton, NM.—In September, Independent We Stand, a national small business movement, kicked off its sixth annual America’s Main Streets contest titled this year, “Road to Recovery,” a three-month-long web-driven contest to help consumers, small business owners, and Main Street organizations reward a deserving Main Street with $25,000 in cash and sponsor-related prizes. Whether the local Main Street is making a comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic or never lost its staying power, Independent We Stand invited the public to help draw attention to the vital role America’s Main Streets play in the long-term success of communities by nominating and voting for their favorite Main Street. RATON MAINSTREET in RATON is among this year’s nominees!

“Independent We Stand wants to help locally owned businesses not just survive the pandemic, but thrive in their communities,” says Independent We Stand co-founder Bill Brunelle. “After the massive nationwide shutdowns due to COVID, we recognize the pride business owners take in their Main Streets, and we want to help share those stories through our contest. It’s more important now than ever, to get behind these businesses with our support.”

When the pandemic hit, Raton MainStreet jumped into action. They knew it would be up to them to help save every small business in their community. They came up with the idea to do virtual Cash Mob shows via Facebook Live. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the group went live with a show from a local small business selling their products over a 2 hour period. Through 2020 and the first 4 months of 2021, Raton MainStreet helped 35 small local businesses and generated close to $75,000 for all of the businesses combined. In an uncertain time when the State of New Mexico was on total lockdown, Raton MainStreet found a very creative way to save the businesses in their town. They also went on to train other MainStreet Communities in New Mexico and Southern Colorado on how to hold their very own virtual cash mob shows. Not one Raton business had to close its doors permanently due to the pandemic and the lockdowns because of the Raton Cash Mob!

“Large grant opportunities like this don’t come around often. An award like this would help sustain our organization to continue to help make Raton the best place on earth to live.” Brenda Ferri, Executive Director

All nominations and voting take place on MainStreetContest.com beginning at 10 a.m. EST on Sept. 13, 2021.

Important dates:

Sept. 13 to Nov. 7: Nominations and quarterfinalist voting
Nov. 15 to Dec. 12: Semifinalist voting
Dec. 20: America’s Main Streets “Road to Recovery” winner announced
Feb. 14: “Show Your Main Streets Some Love” event; America’s Main Streets “Road to Recovery” winner announces plans for $25,000 grand prize

Additional contest prizes include:

STIHL Equipment Certificate for $1,000 worth of STIHL equipment good at any STIHL Dealer in the U.S.
Do it Best Corp. $500 shopping spree
Tmbr Flooring $500 shopping spree
Nationwide Marketing Group $500 shopping spree
Public relations and social media recognition
A special plaque for the winner to proudly display

For more information on RATON MAINSTREET, visit RATONMAINSTREET.ORG or Brenda Ferri at 575-445-2052.

Presenting Contest Sponsor:

STIHL Inc., America’s number-one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment*, is the founding sponsor of Independent We Stand and the presenting sponsor of America’s Main Streets contest. The company follows a unique distribution strategy in the handheld outdoor power equipment industry, choosing never to sell products at big box stores, but instead remaining loyal to its 9,000+ authorized local STIHL Dealers nationwide.

Supporting Contest Sponsors:

About Raton MainStreet

Our Mission

We are committed members of the community dedicated to improving the quality of life in Raton by revitalizing our downtown area. We want to foster business prosperity and offer new economic opportunities. We seek to have a community where all generations can have a sense of pride in Raton and all cultures feel respect for their heritage.

Our Goals

Promote economic sustainability for new and existing businesses through the development of catalyst projects in the downtown Master Plan that supports Raton’s growth and downtown revitalization.
Enhance Raton’s natural culture and historic riches by developing a vibrant downtown community that engages multi-generational citizens by creating a unique sense of place
Ensure that Raton MainStreet, Inc. is a visible, well-run, well-resourced organization that has credibility in the community.

Our Vision of Raton

Raton is “small-town America” at its finest. It is a comfortable place to live where residents and visitors can escape the “hustle and bustle” of more hectic lifestyles, to be greeted by heartfelt smiles and friendly hellos while strolling downtown, a place where neighbors truly care for each other and offer hospitality to visitors without hesitation. Raton has a deep sense of shared values and community pride, a keen appreciation of its historical and cultural heritage, and also provides the best of modern conveniences. Life in Raton makes you want to be part of this thriving community where businesses prosper and economic opportunities abound.

About Independent, We Stand

Independent We Stand is a nationwide movement of independent small business owners whose mission is to inspire other small business owners to better understand and celebrate their locally owned status while educating consumers about the importance and strong economic benefits of supporting them. The Independent We Stand movement is sponsored by STIHL Inc. STIHL products are sold through more than 10,000 authorized local STIHL Dealers from coast to coast – not big box stores. Associate sponsors include North American Hardware and Paint Association, Nationwide Marketing Group, Do it Best Corp., and Tmbr Flooring.

*”Number one selling brand” is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2020 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.

###