RevitalizeSA: Corridor Leadership Program

The nine-month, economic development leadership training program will provide participants with:

• Useful tools to spark community improvement;
• Practice through workshops and hands-on projects; and
• Connections with local peers, experts, and community leaders.

The skills and knowledge gained during the nine-month program will help participants build skills and networks that will help them to lead positive change in their local neighborhood commercial corridor. The pilot program is offered at no cost to participants and is supported by American Rescue Act (ARPA) funds.

By participating in this program, selected participants will gain:

• Enhanced leadership abilities to drive change at the local level, specific to commercial corridor renewal;
• Expanded networks of peer leaders and industry experts;
• Proven strategies to champion neighborhood revitalization;
• Funding and support to complete your own corridor improvement project; and
• Potential to access up to $5,000 in CHANGE Grant Funds for a commercial corridor revitalization project.

As part of the program, participant leaders will develop a project proposal for their identified commercial corridor and may apply to receive a CHANGE Grant of up to $5,000. These grants are intended to spark positive changes in a neighborhood business district.

• Currently live or work in San Antonio - minimum 1 year
• Demonstrated work/volunteer efforts on neighborhood initiatives, small business, or local development.
• Demonstrated experience of collaboration with others to drive change in San Antonio.
• Current involvement in economic development activities or demonstrated enthusiasm to learn more.
• Ability to commit to the program timeline and to 12 training days over a 9-month period.
• Have demonstrated leadership experience and a desire to expand leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated leadership experience.
• Passion for commercial corridor revitalization.

9-Month Program

• 6 months of training over 12 days
• 3 months of CHANGE project implementation (optional)
• project showcase
• graduation

Participants

Up to 15 participants for Cohort 3 in 2026.

Orientation

A mandatory program orientation provides the background and overall foundation for the program.

Leadership Retreat

A mandatory 2-day opening leadership retreat provides participant leaders an opportunity to build the relationships that are critical for peer-to-peer feedback and support.

5 Leadership Days

These days are focused on interpersonal skills critical to engaging with a neighborhood commercial corridor.

Commercial corridor revitalization frequently requires that the manager or corridor leader bring stakeholders together, even though they possess little to no formal authority, which creates unique management challenges.

4 Strategy Days

These days are focused on revitalization strategies, including:

• placemaking
• marketing and promotion
• retail retention and attraction
• resources
• performance

CHANGE Proposals

Participants will have the opportunity to develop and submit CHANGE project proposals to receive a grant of up to $5,000 to implement their approved project within 3 months after completing the program training.

February

• February 12: Information Session #1 (10 - 11 a.m.)
• February 24: Information Session #2 (1:30 - 2:30 p.m.)

March

• March 27: Virtual Program Orientation (12 – 1:30 p.m.)
• March 31: Leadership Retreat Day 1 – Main Street America Approach Strengths Based Leadership

April

• April 1: Leadership Retreat Day 2 - Main Street America Approach; Strengths Based Leadership
• April 14: Strategy City Day 1
• April 28: Leadership MSA Approach - Economic Vitality

May

• May 12: Strategy City Day 2
• May 26: Leadership MSA Approach - Design/Placemaking

June

• June 9: Strategy City Day 3
• June 16: Leadership MSA Approach - Promotion

July

• July 7: Leadership MSA Approach - Organization
• July 21: Strategy - Developing a Transformation Strategy to Revitalize a Main Street Corridor

August

August 4: Leadership - Leading Strategic Change - Project Management in Community

September – November

CHANGE Grant implementation period

December

CHANGE Activation Showcase and Graduation

• Program participants may not miss more than two program trainings.
• Projects must be for the specific San Antonio commercial corridor identified by the participant in the program application.
• Proposed CHANGE Grant Project corridors may be no less than 0.25 linear miles in length and no more than 1 linear mile. Corridors between 0.25 linear miles and 0.5 linear miles are ideal.
• Projects must receive direct feedback and buy-in from corridor businesses and other stakeholders as part of the project development.
• Projects must demonstrate:
  • an economic development focus
  • an understanding of the MSA Approach's "Four Points"
  • a project plan that can be completed in 3 months