Federal Hill: A Long Way from Japan

The Street Beat Festival wasn’t the only anticipated event happening on September 19th. This was also the day that Hiro Matsumoto came all the way from Japan to visit Federal Hill Main Street, winner of the 2009 Great American Main Street Award! Hiro is interested in starting a similar community revitalization program in his native Japan and was visiting successful organizations throughout the Baltimore/Washington area. Hiro enjoyed the Street Beat Festival activities, particularly the music, and then visited the Main Street Office and Visitors' Center to learn more about the program and its 10-year history.

--Chelsea Ryder

Pictured above are Hiro, Lauren Atkins of National Main Street Center in Washington, DC, and Federal Hill Main Street director Jane Seebold at the festival.