1. (1) The Utah Main Street Program is created within the department to provide resources for the revitalization of downtown or commercial district areas of municipalities in the state.

2. (2) To implement the program, the department may:

   1. (a) become a member of the National Main Street Center and partner with the center to become the statewide coordinating program for participating municipalities in the state;
   2. (b) establish criteria for the designation of one or more local main street programs;
   3. (c) provide training and technical assistance to local governments, businesses, property owners, or other organizations that participate in designated local main street programs;
   4. (d) subject to appropriations from the Legislature or other funding, provide financial assistance to designated local main street programs; and
   5. (e) under the direction of the executive director, appoint full-time staff.

3. (3) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the department may make rules establishing the eligibility and reporting criteria for a downtown area to receive a local main street program designation, including requirements for:

   1. (a) local government support of the local main street program; and
   2. (b) collecting data to measure economic development impact.

4. (4) The department shall include in the annual written report described in Section 9-1-208, a report of the program's operations and details of which municipalities have received:

   1. (a) a local main street program designation; and
   2. (b) financial support from the program.

Amended by Chapter 44, 2025 General Session