LYNN ― The local organization Lynn Main Streets is launching a new program called “Light Up Downtown” to bring holiday spirit to the area and highlight local businesses for seasonal shopping, food and festivities.
This project began on Nov. 26 with the Downtown Festival of Lights in Central Square and will continue through the week of Christmas.
Special Projects and Partnerships Manager for Lynn Main Streets Josie Santos said he has spent time in the past year working closely with the local businesses, where he witnessed how strong and resilient they are.
“It was great to learn from them that creativity and collaboration can bring our economy back,” Santos said. “With this in mind, the holiday campaign came to life as a way to support the locals and collaborate with our city departments.”
This holiday campaign also features three Lynn Public School students acting as “Elf Ambassadors,” visiting downtown businesses to attract shoppers.
The Elves will be taking #sELFies with shoppers to help promote each business.
The students participating as elves have the opportunity to gain valuable work and community-engagement experience throughout the campaign.
Light Up Downtown was made possible through a collaboration between Lynn Main Streets, the Department of Public Works, Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC/LYNN), the Downtown Lynn Cultural District and local businesses.
“The businesses… have continued to serve the public during these very challenging several years of being a small business owner,” Lynn Main Streets said. “The program not only serves to promote these businesses, but also to applaud their resiliency and to fulfill Lynn Main Streets’ mission of shopping local.”
Lynn Main Streets was established in 2019 when a group of city residents partnered with business owners, civic leaders and nonprofit organizations who shared a passion for an inclusive vision of a thriving downtown.
The group used the Main Street America project framework for community-driven economic development of under-utilized, historic downtown districts, following the transformational strategies currently used in more than 1,200 downtown districts across the country. The framework’s focus is on economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.
To learn more about this holiday campaign and Lynn Main Streets, visit www.lynnmainstreets.org.
