Wyoming Gov. Matthew Mead has announced the appointment of Ayres Associates planner Matt Ashby, AICP CUD, to another three-year term with the Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board. Ashby has been on the board since 2010, benefiting the organization with his community planning and redevelopment experience.

The Advisory Board helps the Wyoming Business Council structure technical and grant assistance to 20 communities around the Cowboy State. The Advisory Board guides and advocates for the Wyoming Main Street Program, which helps lead a powerful, grassroots network committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. As a Main Street America coordinating program, Wyoming Main Street joins more than 40 other state coordinating programs and more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities across the country in this effort.

“With the rise of e-commerce, downtowns have a distinct opportunity to capitalize on the authentic character of a place to leverage increased economic activity for small business,” says Ashby, who has helped communities across the country to rediscover their place in the world. “I’m honored to be able to bring some of the innovative ideas I’ve encountered in towns across the country back home, but more often find myself sharing insights from our outstanding Wyoming Main Streets.”

Wyoming’s revitalization efforts have been recognized nationally in recent years, with Rawlins and Rock Springs programs being named finalists for the Great American Main Street Award.

“It’s a testimony to the strength of the Main Street approach and the tireless efforts of the local program managers to be recognized nationally,” Ashby says. And with more exciting prospects cropping up in Main Streets across Wyoming, Ashby says he can’t wait to see what happens next.

Based in Ayres’ Cheyenne, Wyoming, office, Matt previously served for seven years as the City of Cheyenne’s planning director. His enthusiasm for vibrant community development sharpens the focus of Ayres’ work in brownfield redevelopment, transportation planning, urban park and recreation planning, and landscape architecture.

Matt’s eye for innovation has been recognized by his peers, with project accolades including the American Planning Association’s Daniel Burnham Award for the Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization’s PlanCheyenne.

Educated at the University of Colorado, Matt holds dual master’s degrees in urban design and urban and regional planning, as well as planning and urban design certifications from the American Institute of Certified Planners. No stranger to public service, Matt values volunteerism, serving on the Western Planning Resources Board of Directors and as co-chairman of the United Way of Laramie County’s annual fundraising campaign.