Hyannis Main Street BID is Thankful for Grant Support During Trying Year

The Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District has been the grateful recipient of several grants this year, totaling $75,000, for events, marketing, and capital improvements to Main Street. The ongoing health crisis has required hard work and innovation from the business owners of Hyannis Main Street, and the BID has been grateful to receive funds supporting the continuing efforts of everyone on Hyannis Main Street to make Downtown Hyannis a vibrant and dynamic setting for visitors year round.

In partnership with the Town of Barnstable, Main Street received the “Hybrid: Main Streets and Reimagined Streets” grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Shared Winter Streets & Spaces Grant Program to enhance visitor experiences along Main Street Hyannis and Hyannis Harbor. This grant was designed to help address the particular challenges of the winter amid the ongoing public health crisis. Main Street listened to the community, and has been excited to add to our plantings, decorating the barriers, and building on our maritime themes.

The BID also received funds through The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), and their Travel and Tourism Recovery Grant Program. These funds were critical in the development of marketing materials for tourists, including up to date maps and event listings. The BID was able to update hyannismainstreet.com, with increased search capabilities on the restaurant page, as well as additional space on the homepage to highlight a different featured business each month. These improvements will yield tangible results for Hyannis Main Street, with the ability to show stakeholders the increased site traffic resulting from these marketing efforts.

The Mid-Cape Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, was a generous grant-maker for the Hyannis Main Street BID this year, helping to fund the always popular Movies on the Green. Hyannis Main Street was able to bring seven family friendly movies to the Hyannis Village Green during the Summer of 2021. These annual summer movies are free to the public, and the Town of Barnstable also provides free movie themed crafts for all of the kids to make before showtime. The BID is grateful that the Mid-Cape Cultural Council appreciates the value of this community activity.