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.
Welcome to the 2019 edition of State of Main, the annual publication of Main Street America. Serving as both an annual report and an industry journal, State of Main provides a detailed look back on all that we have accomplished together and offers cutting-edge ideas and trends in the commercial district revitalization field.
This year’s edition is dedicated to celebrating the incredible depth and diversity of the Main Street experience and exploring the role of place in creating stronger communities. With articles written by industry experts on topics ranging from the transformative placemaking to inclusive entrepreneurship, the publication is brimming with tools, tips, and strategies that will help you lead a results-oriented revitalization effort.
A Proven Economic Development Strategy
By Ed McMahon, Main Street America Board Chair
Dollar for dollar, pound for pound, Main Street is one of the most effective economic development programs ever created. Developed over 35 years ago, the Main Street four-point framework has a proven record in over 2,000 communities of creating new jobs and businesses while also rehabilitating countless historic buildings and revitalizing thousands of Main Streets and disinvested commercial corridors.
Why We Need To Invest in Transformative Placemaking
By Jennifer Vey, senior fellow with the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution and director of the Bass Center
In an era marked by stark inequalities — by income and wealth, by race and ethnicity, by geography — there is an urgency, and opportunity, for local and regional leaders to embrace and advance place-led development that produces better economic outcomes for more people in more places. To help deliver on that imperative, the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program launched the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking in collaboration with Project for Public Spaces, the National Main Street Center, and others. Learn more the Bass Center in in this piece by Jennifer Vey, senior fellow with the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution and director of the Center.
The Importance of Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystems
By Dell Gines, Senior Community Development Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
In this article, Dell Gines, Senior Community Development Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, takes a look at the importance of entrepreneurship in our national and local economies, discusses the entrepreneurship ecosystem movement as an economic development strategy designed to spur local entrepreneurship, delves into the emerging focus of inclusive economic development, and concludes by examining ways to create inclusion in the development of entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Activating the Main Street Approach through Placemaking
By Michael Wagler, Coordinator for Main Street Iowa
Michael Wagler, Main Street Iowa Coordinator at the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Downtown Resource Center, explores how placemaking principles can be utilized as an implementation strategy of local Main Street efforts to empower community members and create more action-oriented programs. He provides strategies on how to get started, offers inspiring case stories of programs across the state that are demonstrating impact and change through placemaking activities, and outlines tips for creating a more action-oriented Main Street program.
The Main Street America Community Evaluation Framework outlines what it means to be a highly successful Main Street program and sets a path for growth and development. Explore our full suite of resources designed to support local Main Street programs in aligning their efforts with the Main Street Approach and preparing for annual self-assessments for national designation.
Join host Matt Wagner as he welcomes David West, director of Premier Retail Marketing and based in Adelaide, South Australia.
In this episode, Matt reveals the data-driven trends that define the holiday shopping season — and shows you exactly how to leverage them for your small business.
Celebrate the broad diversity of champions that make up our powerful network and offers resources and solutions for leading revitalization efforts.
This workbook has everything you need to guide you from start to finish through the entire strategic planning process. Published by Georgia Main Street.
Toccoa, GA © Steph Maley, Steph’s Photography
Get the resources to understand this proved method for downtown and neighborhood district revitalization.
Design is one of the Four Points of the Main Street Approach, the leading downtown and commercial district revitalization framework.
Economic vitality is one of the Four Points of the Main Street Approach, the leading downtown and commercial district revitalization framework.
Organization is one of the Four Points of the Main Street Approach, the leading downtown and commercial district revitalization framework.
Promotion is one of the Four Points of the Main Street Approach, the leading downtown and commercial district revitalization framework.
The Michigan Transformation Strategy Guidebook provides step-by-step instructions for selecting a transformation strategy, developing goals, and measures of success, and implementation.
Milan, Michigan © Main Street America
Watch this webinar to learn how historic downtowns and commercial districts are rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic.
State of Main provides a detailed look at all the accomplishments of the Main Street America Network and explores cutting edge ideas and trends in the commercial district revitalization field
Learn how placemaking principles can be utilized as an implementation strategy of local Main Street efforts to empower community members and create more action-oriented programs
Metuchen, NJ © Lauren Beischer
Learn how Downtown Washington, Inc, one of Missouri's first Main Streets has used design to transform their downtown district to promote downtown retail and drive investment.
Learn how Natchitoches Main Street transformed this historic Louisiana town into a magnet for small businesses and investment.
Learn how Livermore Downtown, Inc, has transformed this northern California city in a regional destination for dining, shopping, and culture.
Learn how Laramie Main Street Alliance is transforming this Wyoming town and bringing new vibrancy to the downtown core.
Learn how H Street Main Street in D.C. is transforming the community by bringing in new businesses and investment.
A practical framework to collect, assess, and communicate impact data to deepen your impact and improve your ability to serve your community.
Learn the five of these key attributes of successful Main Street leaders with insights and examples from across the Main Street America network. Published in State of Main.
Director of Policy Outreach, Government Relations and Policy, at the National Trust for Historic Preservation explains how Main Street advocacy has made a difference and how to get involved.
A handbook on how urban design principles can be used to improve economic development, placemaking, safety, and community.
Learn how to use data and market analysis processes to understand your community and advance revitalization and economic development efforts.
The Main Street America Network is comprised of some of the most enthusiastic, passionate, committed people you'll ever find. Learn more about this nationwide movement of community changemakers.
A short video explaining how the Main Street Approach can transform historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial corridors.
Learn how the nationwide Main Street network harnesses the Main Street Approach to transform communities.
Learn how the Main Street Approach gives communities a competitive advantage, resulting in reinvestment, new businesses, new jobs, and building rehabilitations.
Learn how to launch or strengthen your community engagement efforts, including actionable tools to put to use in your own community.
A short video showing the impact that the Main Street Approach has had to transform historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial corridors.
A guide examining how to create or enhance a sustainable commercial district revitalization effort using the Main Street Approach.
Vital updates to the The Main Street Approach to improve community revitalization and economic development in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
Ed McMahon explores the key characteristics of successful downtowns. Published in State of Main.
Boston, MA
Learn about the important role that Main Street America programs have to play in building inclusive communities.
Insights from across the network on how to lead your Main Street program. Published in State of Main.
Learn how Otsego, Michigan used community support and strategic visioning to launch their revitalization efforts. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Explore benefits of and strategies for creating a vibrant arts and entertainment district in your downtown or neighborhood. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Learn how focusing on the unique features of your community can make a Main Street district memorable to shoppers and visitors. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Learn about Iowa’s exciting sustainability initiative and the ways two small towns are becoming more green. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
A detailed guide to comprehensive commercial district revitalization for downtowns and neighborhoods.
