A truly dedicated, diversified group of citizens makes up the board of Corrales MainStreet?. The board consists of a real estate broker, an attorney, a banker, an engineer, a marketing consultant/spa owner, a vintner, a bed and breakfast proprietor, a former event planner, a retired nurse and a retired business administrator. Why do these people choose to volunteer countless hours to Corrales MainStreet?

We love this historic village with all its culture and charisma and want to assure that it will continue to exist independently with the best quality of life possible for our families and descendents. We’re ordinary citizens with an extraordinary vision dedicated to preserving the character of our community through economic health.

If the businesses prosper then our community is vital and healthy. Our downtown reflects the pride and character of its residents. An enhanced marketplace exudes a positive image, creates jobs and keeps kids in town.

A successful downtown business area provides the stage for family social and cultural activities such as those sponsored by MainStreet. Corralenos proudly parade the American flag, favorite pets and horses down our Main Street for our July 4th Parade. MainStreet announces the beginning of the December holiday season with the Starlight Parade. Families gather and outsiders come in to celebrate our heritage, holidays and festivals on Main Street.

MainStreet wants to promote historical awareness through the preservation of our architecture and human history by encouraging businesses to occupy and care for our historic buildings. This enhances our character and educates our residents and visitors. We want to help our businesses to improve the impression our Main Street presents.

A good example of MainStreet helping a business is the Edward Gonzales Art Gallery. We wanted to help build an adobe wall at the gallery. The Gonzales’s provided some of the adobe bricks and the foundation and helped us with the labor. Thinking creatively to raise funds for some of the cost of the construction, we decided to hold a workshop on “How to Build an Adobe Wall”, charged for the instruction and provided the students with hands on experience. Three things were accomplished. We helped a business, built an adobe wall and educated the participants in a historic method of construction. Oh yes…and we had fun doing it.

Our goal is to preserve our village by encouraging the enhancement and diversification of the economy so that our families are proud, comfortable and safe in Corrales. MainStreet strives to include in this preservation the village traditions, way of life, history and agricultural roots.

By Ann Taylor, President, Corrales MainStreet