BEATRICE – The director of a downtown business promotion organization is resigning after ten years leading the organization.
Michael Sothan says he is leaving as Executive Director of Main Street Beatrice, to take a position with History Nebraska, formerly the Nebraska State Historical Society. Sothan said his time with the organization, “has been amazing” and he has a deep passion for the work of the organization and community.


"Maybe the biggest thing that I've seen...I see the way that Beatrice has even been changing the way it looks at itself, I see a lot more people that see the positive, see the successes... and are really looking at Beatrice in a new light of what can be done and what has been done...in a positive way that will carry us into the future. Just that attitude of community success and pride, that's been growing....and that's been one of the biggest things."


In the past five years, there have been improvements to the downtown area of more than $13 million, as the City of Beatrice, Main Street and local businesses have utilized grant funds to upgrade properties.


"Beatrice has been receiving different grant awards, but on top of that, Main Street Beatrice has been getting nationally recognized. The city of Beatrice, not too long ago, was named Nebraska's Showcase Community of the Year. We've had several different awards that have been coming our way the last few years, and that's just because people in Beatrice are truly investing....being engaged....and that's just definitely rewarding to see."


Sothan says with the progress made there are challenges and opportunities before the community that take patience and faith to sustain success.
President of the Main Street Board, Dr. Jacob May, said Sothan is the longest service executive director and has worked tirelessly to lead the program. Sothan is being hired by History Nebraska to coordinate the historic tax credit program, which has been used by some Beatrice businesses.


"Here in Beatrice, think of the building, Natural Vibes...they are a historic tax credit project....Smith, Shafer, Davis...that law office remodel that's going on....that's a tax credit project. Buildings like the Paddock-Kensington will likely be a tax credit project. Obviously, buildings like those across the State of Nebraska, I'll be trying to help guide and help people access incentive tools, for their redevelopment."


Sothan will stay in the Main Street position through the end of September to help the organization with a smooth transition to new leadership. He said what he’ll miss the most is the people who make the community great and make progress happen. He said growing a downtown is a lesson in persistence.


"It is about sustainable long-term growth. It doesn't happen overnight. I think that's definitely some people's biggest frustration....they want to see this downtown transformed quickly or this community really transform quickly. When you stand back and reflect, like I've been able to do the past couple of days...you really do get to see the success that we've had, but it definitely doesn't happen overnight. A lot of the successes we've really seen this past five to seven years we really can start tracking some of that. And, it's going to take several more years to get to where we want to be."


Sothan’s wife, Megan, is the site manager for the Hollenberg, Kansas Pony Express Station, working with the Kansas Historical Society. Sothan says the couple wants to reside in Beatrice.


Main Street Beatrice is a member of a network of Main Street communities in Nebraska and is nationally certified.