When we think of the automotive and aviation industries, one idea is central to both: the ability to move people from one destination to another. One of my favorite activities in our Downtown District is the Chamber’s annual Main Event Car Show & Cruise. Seeing classic cars, motorcycles, muscle cars, and tractors is such a delight. There is something truly special about restoring something to its former glory. The time, dedication, vision, and hard work that go into that restoration offer a powerful life lesson: taking the opportunity to look back at how things were done, learning from them, and using that knowledge to move forward on the right path.

Artesia MainStreet is in a similar season of restoration and innovation. Our organization has been around for 29 years. Can you imagine what Artesia would look like without Artesia MainStreet? Our original board members, volunteers, and generous donors have transformed both this organization and our town for the better. We are deeply grateful for the support, dedication, and growth these individuals have given to Artesia MainStreet and our city.

This year, we decided to reassess our goals and vision to align with the national Main Street America Four Points model. As we look ahead, we continue to draw inspiration from our strong beginnings. We now have a board of seven members, the majority being from our previous board, who are committed to keeping Artesia MainStreet strong and making our Downtown District the place to be. I am incredibly proud of the work we will accomplish this year—the first of which is hiring a new Executive Director. We have been without a director since October, and our board is excited to begin the search for our next Downtown Driver.