deCoding Downtown
This guide from Main Street Alabama identifies the ways that municipal regulations can be used to support downtown transformation efforts with an emphasis on zoning and building codes.
Join us May 6 – 8 in Birmingham, Alabama, for the 2024 Main Street Now Conference!
RegisterMarion, 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.
The Building Opportunities on Main Street (BOOMS) Tracker is a first step towards activating vacant and idle spaces in Main Street districts. Using a smartphone or other connected device, local leaders can gather, store, and showcase information about their district’s built environment to better understand the places and spaces that have an impact on their Main Streets. The BOOMS Tracker can be used to understand the landscape of your community, make the case for reuse, push for policy changes to support vibrant communities, explore opportunities for new housing, and more.
To access the tool, you will need login credentials provided by Main Street America. These credentials are only available for designated Main Street programs. Learn more about login credentials and the platform’s roster of programs here.
How many housing units, businesses, and civic spaces currently exist in Main Street districts? How many more could be added to vacant buildings, lots, and upper floors? The ability to answer the second question is key to unlocking the potential of our built environment.
West Des Moines, Iowa © Historic Valley Junction Foundation