When roadway construction starts in front of your business, will you be prepared to manage your cash flow when faced with construction-related impacts?
To help you lessen the day-to-day challenges of roadway construction such as a change in daily customer traffic flow, limited street or parking lot access, or reduced revenues, the Regional Transportation Authority funds a voter-approved business assistance program to help you maintain successful operations.
Established in 2006, the MainStreet program continues to fund business consultants/liaisons who keep business owners informed of project activities and offer no-cost consultation services before and during construction.
Consultants with years of direct business experience share customized survival strategies to manage the disruptions and offer solutions that can be unique to each business.
The RTA’s 20-year regional transportation plan is funded by a half-cent sales tax, which voters approved in May 2006 and again in March 2026. MainStreet has assisted over 11,000+ businesses, representing over 120,000 employees to 140,000 employees.
MainStreet aids businesses in developing stronger, positive government/private sector relationships, based upon trust, respect, responsiveness, tangible solutions and results.
Business Outreach
For each RTA project, MainStreet business outreach liaisons (our consultants) share information among the project teams, contractors and businesses impacted by the transportation construction project. The liaisons can:
- provide fact sheets, traffic updates, timelines and notices of public meetings.
- coordinate with businesses to ensure timely responses to concerns (e.g., business access, parking, utilities and scheduling conflicts, etc.).
- work with contractors to solve unforeseen field issues (e.g., utilities, business access, traffic safety, etc.).
- explain and coordinate complimentary consulting services to potentially solve unexpected and impending impacts.
Business Consulting
Private-sector business consultants are contracted to assist businesses to prepare for unexpected and/or anticipated impacts and to implement best practices and services that mitigate potential declines in customers and revenues. The consultants can:
- conduct analyses to identify potential opportunities and strategies to mitigate construction impacts.
- identify social media and marketing strategies to maintain and/or grow target markets.
- conduct financial analyses and identify operating strategies to minimize losses and/or enhance profitability.
- provide customer service/upselling training for restaurants and retail businesses to maximize revenues.
- offer graphic design services to create banners, access signs, flyers and maps, etc., to increase business exposure.
Business Resources
The MainStreet business assistance program has created an extensive resource directory that provides contact information for business services from within non-profit and public sectors and has developed tip sheets for managing a business throughout a construction project. The following resources[SS1] [BA2] can be reviewed, downloaded and printed:
- MainStreet Business Assistance Program Brochure
- Southern Arizona Small Business Resource Directory
- MainStreet Business Assistance Program FAQs
- Transportation Construction FAQs
- Transportation Construction Preparation Tips
- Communication Tips
- Media Tips
- Are You Prepared
- Consulting Process
- Intake Agenda
Remember, it is better to prepare than react during transportation construction projects.
MainStreet Business Assistance Program Frequently Asked Questions
WEBMASTER NOTE: We should bring the FAQs in here not as a separate page perhaps?
- What are the benefits of the MainStreet Business Assistance Program?
- What do business consulting services offer?
- What services are not provided?
- What has the MainStreet Business Assistance Program accomplished?
- How can I participate?
Contact Info
Steve Taylor
RTA MainStreet Program Manager
Phone: (520) 900-3310
Email: Steve Taylor staylor@mainstreetinfo.org
Mailing Address
RTA MainStreet Program
1 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 401
Tucson, AZ 85701