HELP & HOW-TO
Main Street Help Center
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Everyone
What is Sanford Main Street Core?
It is the operating layer behind the rebuilt site. Business, event, program, volunteer and staff tools use one shared source of truth rather than separate static lists.
Where do I log in?
Use the Main Street Login link at the bottom of any page. It opens Sanford Main Street's branded authentication screen. After login, non-WordPress-admin users are routed to the front-end dashboard. Board and Committee registration is invitation-only; recipients use the unique registration link emailed by Sanford Main Street.
How do I log out?
Open the Main Street Dashboard and use the Log Out button in the dashboard header. You will be securely signed out and returned to the public homepage.
How is the dashboard organized?
The Main Street Dashboard uses a role-aware Command Center instead of one long Quick Actions list. Internal pages use a compact button navigation: Dashboard plus grouped Merchants, Operations, and Organization menus when your permissions allow them, followed by Public Site and Help. This keeps the same capability boundaries while avoiding an ever-growing row of individual links. The Dashboard itself continues to group work into Business & Intake, Downtown/People Operations, and Organization & Governance areas.
Why can’t I see WordPress admin?
Main Street roles are intentionally front-end only. WordPress Administrator access remains separate for technical administration.
How is the public homepage maintained?
The homepage pulls business categories, programs, and upcoming events from Core records. This keeps public information connected to the same source of truth staff and partners manage.
How do I find a Downtown business?
Use Explore Downtown Businesses. You can search by business name or keyword, use the broad Eat & Drink / Shop / Things To Do / Services filters, and then open a full public business profile.
What is Build My Downtown Plan?
The public Plan Your Visit page includes a lightweight itinerary helper. Visitors choose their available time, group, interests, pace, and an optional Downtown business where they need to finish. The browser then creates three discovery ideas from current public Business categories plus official Downtown visitor resources. Answers are not submitted or saved, and the planner does not claim a business is open or rank merchants by quality.
Privacy, Cookies & Accessibility
How do cookie preferences work?
Essential cookies support security, login and saved consent choices. Optional analytics and marketing categories remain off unless a visitor chooses them.
Where are the policies?
Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Accessibility Statement, Cookie Settings, and the branded Main Street Login are available in the Sanford Main Street footer.
What accessibility standard does Sanford Main Street target?
New and substantially updated Sanford Main Street web experiences target WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Accessibility is maintained through the site and Core itself rather than relying on a floating accessibility overlay.
What should staff remember when adding content?
Use meaningful headings, descriptive link text, useful alt text for informative images, captions or text alternatives for media when needed, and accessible HTML content instead of publishing important information only as an image or untagged document. If a visitor reports an accessibility barrier, record the page or workflow and route it for correction.
The built-in FAQ/How-To is maintained with every Sanford Main Street Core release.