L.L.Consulting

12/25/2025

10/06/2025

It is time to "rally your community" to support their local businesses for Small Business Saturday on November 29, 2025. In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday® to back small businesses and keep communities thriving.and to help boost the small businesses at the heart of our Main Streets. While supporting small businesses is important all year long, this one day can make a monumental difference in the lives of small business owners.

The application opens in early October and will remain open until mid-November, or until all the spaces are filled. Complimentary merchandise kits will begin shipping within the first week of the application opening, so we recommend signing up as early as possible to receive your kit with plenty of time to get prepared before Small Business Saturday on November 29th this year. Read more about the event here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/merchant/shop-small/small-business-saturday/

09/24/2025

Excellent article to share with your downtown retailers.

The consumer, business, and technology trends affecting small businesses in 2025.

09/12/2025

Foliage tourism is one of the most popular tourist activities in the fall, generating billions of dollars in economic activity and offering unique and engaging local events and attractions. Is your Main Street ready for the leaf peepers? Great article by Main Street America.

Fall foliage tourism has a substantial economic impact on small towns and rural areas nationwide. Learn how Main Streets can leverage their leaves to boost their communities this fall.

07/19/2025

"When a West Virginia University (WVU) Fashion, Design and Merchandising professor called Main Street Morgantown to say she was looking for a downtown space where her students could run a retail store, they sent her to me. As a board member working on Main Street’s vacant storefront revitalization effort, Morgantown ReStored, I’d developed a good sense of what spaces were available and who owned what.

Beth explained that she had run multiple retail stores herself in years past and now wanted to create a place where her students could get hands-on experience in all aspects of a retail business — from creating displays and sourcing and stocking merchandise to making sales and turning a profit. Having been to the Savannah College of Art and Design’s store, which sells work created and designed by SCAD students, alumni, and faculty, I knew just how exciting her idea could be for our community."

Main Street Morgantown Board Member Jessica McDonald shares how her organization leveraged unique partnerships to create a retail incubator that supports artists, students, and the downtown. Read the whole story on our website (link in the comments).

06/19/2025

Congratulations to as one of T Mobile’s latest 25 Hometown Grant recipients, bringing the total number of communities impacted to 400 across 48 states and one U.S. territory. Clarkdale’s project included creating a vibrant, first-of-its-kind placemaking destination by displaying museum artifacts in show windows on Main Street to attract tourists, enhance community gatherings and valorize an entire town’s history and future.
To date, the T Mobile Hometown Grants program has awarded over $18 million to support local development projects, generated more than 160,000 volunteer hours, and created 1,270jobs, driving meaningful change in communities nationwide. 🤗

05/14/2025

Interested in bringing free, live music to your community? You're invited to a live webinar on Thursday, May 15, at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, to learn about an exciting, multi-year matching grant opportunity of up to $120K (up to $40K each year) for towns and cities of all sizes to present a free outdoor concert series. Applications open today, May 1 through June 30, 2025, for the 2026-2028 Levitt Music Series Grants to activate underused public spaces and build community through the power of free, live music.

During the webinar, we'll discuss the overall application process, including:
• Goals of Levitt Music Series Grants
• Outline of the three grant options: AMP, BLOC, VIBE
• Eligibility criteria
• Online application process and key dates
• What makes a compelling application
• Matching funds requirement
• Public voting process and mini grant
• Levitt Toolkit and support resources
At the end of the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. Registration is required to attend the webinar.

Interested in bringing free, live music to your community? You're invited to a live webinar on Thursday, May 15, at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, to learn about an exciting, multi-year matching grant opportunity up to $120K (up to $40K each year) for towns and cities of all sizes to present a free outdoor...