[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE UKIAH MAIN STREET PROGRAM FOR 20 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL 
                           COMMUNITY SERVICE

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2007

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the Ukiah Main Street Program which has provided outstanding and 
distinguished service to the town of Ukiah, California, and its 
citizens for 20 years.
  Since its founding by Mayor Colleen Henderson in 1987, the Ukiah Main 
Street Program has given merchants and residents tools to improve 
neighborhoods and advance redevelopment of the commercial district. 
Through numerous workshops and consultations with business owners the 
UMSP has helped make Historic Downtown Ukiah a safe and friendly 
business district.
  Six years later, in 1993, Ukiah was named the number one place to 
live in California and the sixth best place to live in the United 
States by Norman Crampton in his book The 100 Best Small Towns in 
America. The recognition brought lots of publicity, and Ukiah was 
featured in publications around the country.
  The UMSP Economic Restructuring Committee has facilitated the 
openings of dozens of new businesses in the downtown including the 
Ukiah Brewing Company, the first organic brewpub in California. UMSP 
produces a map of the historic downtown and directory of businesses 
that is useful to tourists as well as locals.
  The UMSP Design Committee is responsible for beautification projects 
in the historic downtown. Landscaped planter triangles and painted 
crosswalks throughout the downtown corridor have helped create a safer 
and more clearly defined pedestrian area. Trees were planted and are 
maintained in the adjacent Alex Thomas Plaza, a place for many events 
and community gatherings. UMSP installed decorative lighting in the 
trees to enhance the ambiance and walkability of downtown at night.
  The Ukiah Main Street Program began many popular community events 
including the Annual Country Pumpkin Fest, Winter Wonderland, Taste of 
Downtown, Thursday Night Farmers Market, Fabulous Flashback Car Show, 
Cinco de Mayo Festival, North Coast Express Bike Race, Home for the 
Holidays, Moonlight Movie Madness, Downtown Halloween, Deep Valley Brew 
Tasting, Comedy Alley and First Night Ukiah. These events attract 
locals and visitors alike who enjoy the amenities of small town life 
and neighborliness.
  UMSP created a mini-park in the parking lot adjacent to the post 
office and started the Standley Street demonstration block facade 
improvement program that spurred refurbishment and facade improvement 
on 38 downtown properties with an investment of roughly $713,441 in 
public and private funds. In addition nearly 2 million dollars have 
been raised by the UMSP, which is organized as a nonprofit with a 
dedicated volunteer board of directors composed of the community's 
business leaders.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to enter my remarks honoring the Ukiah Main 
Street Program for two decades of exemplary successes, making it a 
model of public and private partnership.

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