Join us May 6 – 8 in Birmingham, Alabama, for the 2024 Main Street Now Conference!
Register
Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams
We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.
Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street
Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.
Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America
Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!
Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo
Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.
Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street
Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
Tasha leads educational programming through the Main Street America Institute. Their work includes the Main Street America Revitalization Professional certification, the Community Transformation Workshop, and the educational sessions at the Main Street Now Conference.
Before Main Street, Tasha served as Executive Director of the Kentucky Entrepreneurship Education Network, a nonprofit serving Kentucky’s budding entrepreneurial talent. Along with program quality and impact, Tasha focused on organizational growth and fundraising, successfully doubling program size, fostering strategic partnerships and broadening funding.
Its flagship program, The Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs, is a household name and notable employment credential in Kentucky due to the effort and impact of Tasha’s leadership. Their dedication to access, quality, and inclusivity identified and equipped a promising generation of next-level ecosystem builders. The result was a diverse, brilliant workforce of innovation practitioners in Kentucky. This cultivation network and approach to igniting a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship and small business is now studied globally for best practices.
In 2021, Tasha launched Home Appalachia, an initiative geared to uplift the talent of the LGBTQ+ community in Eastern Kentucky in alignment with broader economic development and revitalization efforts. Recognizing the inextricable link between diversity and economic development, Tasha is an accomplished and respected leader in the national field of inclusive innovation, and they have been instrumental in the development of ecosystem success in Kentucky. They hold a bachelor’s degree in English Education and a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership, both from Eastern Kentucky University.
Email: JavaScript is required decode this textPhone: JavaScript is required decode this textLocation: JavaScript is required decode this text
Tasha Sams, Manager of Education Programs, shares highlights of phase one of the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (E3) in Rural Main Streets Program and the biggest takeaways from the workshop experiences.
Tasha Sams shared their experiences at this unique Appalachian cultural festival.
