State of Main: Fall 2016
Welcome to the inaugural edition of State of Main, the annual publication of Main Street America featuring thought leadership from across the network.
Florence, South Carolina © Downtown Florence Main Street
Featured Resource
Explore Workbook
Inclusive Engagement
This workbook from Colorado Main Street walks you through the steps needed to build a more inclusive engagement process.
Denison, Texas © Discover Denison
Browse Resources
State of Main: Winter 2019
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.
Demographics, Data, & Diversity
Watch this webinar to learn how to use data to understand your community, craft targeted resource, and respond to unique demographic needs.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are important values for Main Street organization. To ensure consistent practices across their organization, Heart of Biddeford created and implemented this DEI plan with guidelines for staff, board members, and others.
Biddeford, ME © Heart of Biddeford
Communications Procedures
These sample Communication Standard Operating Procedures from Heart of Biddeford provide an example of the communication policies that Main Streets should consider formalizing, including brand guidelines, DEI best practices, website, email marketing, social media, and more.
Biddeford, ME © McKenney Photography
Inclusive Community Engagement Workbook
This workbook from Colorado Main Street walks you through the steps needed to build a more inclusive engagement process, including reviewing best practices, defining your goals, discovering new audiences, and exploring new strategies.
Denison, Texas © Discover Denison
Preserving African American Historic Places
Creating a welcoming and inclusive downtown means you need to understand the rich cultural histories of your historic assets. This guide from the National Trust for Historic Preservation explores strategies to preserve sites of African American history
Community Visioning in a Nutshell
This nutshell guide will guide you through this process, and provide recommendations for templates and further recommended resources that will support you in developing your own materials.
Board of Directors Demographics Matrix
A simple tool to help you evaluate the diversity of your board of directors along age, gender, race, sexuality, income, and more. Created by Indiana Main Street.
Anti-Racism Resources
As community organizations, it is important for Main Streets to stand against racism and bigotry. This toolkit is designed to give you an understanding of the history of our country, the key tenants of allyship, and the ways that your organization can help reduce injustice.
Richmond, CA © Ellen Gailing
Advancing Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Watch this webinar to learn techniques and strategies to support minority entrepreneurs and create a diverse small business ecosystem.
Activating the Main Street Approach through Placemaking
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
Featured Resource
Check it out
Preserving African American Places
This guide from the National Trust for Historic Preservation explores strategies to preserve sites of African American history.
Boston, Massachusetts © Museum of African American History/Shawmut Design & Construction
Latest News & Stories
Main Spotlight: Restoration and Resurgence in the Historic 4th Avenue Black Business District
Urban Impact Inc., harnesses strategic investments and collaborative efforts to foster a vibrant and sustainable future, from visionary adaptive reuse ventures to transformative development grants for small businesses and property owners in Birmingham, Alabama's historic 4th Avenue Black Business District.
Main Street America Partners Secure Allocation of GGRF Funding
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $20B in federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) awards distributed to eight national non-profit consortiums. Main Street America looks forward to partnership and engagement with awardees and local programs to identify projects and expand impact throughout our network.
Hillsboro, Oregon © Alicia Gallo
Staff Spotlight: Reflecting on Equity for Womens History Month
Main Street America Program Officer encourages communities to advance equity for women to grow a more inclusive Movement.
Main Spotlight: An Accessibility-First Approach in Downtown Ruston
Learn how this Louisiana town has used an accessibility-first approach to build a welcoming and inclusive community.
Downtown Ruston, Louisiana. Photo by Henry McCoy.
Program Spotlight: Building a Community Support Network for Rural Entrepreneurs
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.
Watch: How Delta Dirt Distillery is Adding Spirit to Main Street Helena, Arkansas
In this video, learn more about the Williams’ family story, how the business is helping to revive downtown Helena, and the impact they’re having on a national level.
Main Spotlight: Exploring Birmingham’s Commitment to Equity and Inclusivity
Learn how Main Street Now 2024 host city Birmingham, Alabama, is deepening their commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
© Mayor Randall Woodfin
Main Street Business Insights Podcast: Derrick Braziel Talks Isolation, Community-Building
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Derrick Braziel, owner of Pata Roja Taqueria and co-founder of MORTAR, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Main Spotlight: Advancing Equity with Micromobility
Learn how micromobility can increase access, equity, and inclusion in your Main Street with examples from local programs across the network.
Main Spotlight: Building Upon a Civil Rights Legacy in Albany, Georgia
Learn how Albany, Georgia, recognizes their civil rights legacy and supports the African American community today.
Community Spotlight: Dia de los Muertos with Main Street Gardnerville
Celebrate this traditional Mexican holiday with Gardnerville, Nevada.
Gardnerville, NV © Main Street Gardnerville
Program Spotlight: The 2023 Appalachian Big Ideas Festival in Hazard, Kentucky
Tasha Sams shared their experiences at this unique Appalachian cultural festival.
