“Main Street” TV Host, Film Crew To Visit Camas This Week
Camas, WA — Amanda Brinkman, host of The Small Business Revolution’s “Main Street” web TV series, and several members of their talented film crew will be visiting Camas this Wednesday and Thursday to see what makes Mill Town tick.
As part of their visit, city leaders will host the “Main Street” team at 6 pm Wednesday at Grains of Wrath, which is located in Downtown Camas. The public is invited to attend.
On December 11, Camas became a Top 10 contender to be chosen as the focus town for season four of their ground-breaking series, which is helping to reinvigorate small towns and businesses across the United States. They’re coming to Camas to learn about its accomplishments, history and current struggles. Following their visit, they will travel to Arlington, WA, another Top 10 contender, and all other cities on their list. Camas is their first stop.
”We have such a compelling story to tell,” said Carrie Schulstad, Executive Director of the Downtown Camas Association. “We have a great history and we’re also a town in transition with the mill closing in the next couple of years.”
Schulstad said she hopes that Camas will make Top 5. Once that happens, those five cities will be subject to national voting. It’ll be a matter of which city gets the most votes.
It’s also one reason why Camas citizens have been posting #MyCamas on their social media posts and sharing stories about what it’s like living in Mill Town. It’s also a reason why Lacamas Magazine continues to produce the #MyCamas videos.
”It’s about getting the word out about what an amazing place this is,” said Schulstad. “We also have many businesses who could use the help that the Small Business Revolution provides.”
The winner of the contest will be featured in Season 4, in which six businesses will receive a total of $500,000 in revitalization funds. The show features Brinkman, and Ty Pennington, of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” fame.
”I’m so excited they’re coming,” said Camas Mayor, Shannon Turk. “I really look forward to meeting them, and showing them what we’re all about.”
The crew arrives mid-day on Wednesday at a private reception, and then they will be visiting local shops and store owners to hear their stories.
Schulstad is also grateful to Maria Gonser, owner of Attic Gallery, who nominated Camas to appear on the show.
”Camas would be great for Season 4 of ‘Main Street,’” said Gonser. “There’s so much to see here, and we have some real struggles.”
To learn more, visit www.smallbusinessrevolution.org
Are they coming here to highlight the gentrification of Camas and shutdown of the mill? Or to influx money into the 10 bars and 10 hair salons that have multiple business owners and occupy a 2 block radius. This is shameful we’re even considered, Camas is a shell of itself and most the middle class and poor have migrated out. Camas is not a small town – it is a Portland suburb.