Bridging Humanities and Preservation Through Community Storytelling
Unlock the transformative power of storytelling to breathe new life into historic preservation and transform your downtown into a living narrative.
Sheridan, Wyoming © Sheridan Travel and Tourism
Featured Resource
View Webinar
Get Hyped! Webinar
Watch this webinar to learn how social influencers can drive engagement and build excitement for your downtown promotions and programs.
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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
Shop Small Guide
Examples of Main Street marketing brochures from across Indiana's Main Street programs.
Get Hyped: Turn District Cheerleaders into Social Influencers
Watch this webinar to learn how social influencers can drive engagement and build excitement for your downtown promotions and programs.
Wayfinding Sign System Guide
This guide from Virginia Main Street explores the importance of wayfinding, the components of a custom wayfinding plan, design considerations, and implementation.
Sterling, Illinois. © Sterling Main Street
Crafting Your Message for an Elected Official
Simple advice for outreach and communications with elected officials and government representatives.
Social Media, Photo Contests, and Walking Tours
Use this guide from Colorado Main Street to help you develop social media strategies, photo contests, and walking tours that will boost engagement and bring people downtown.
Lansing, MI
Crisis Management
Everything you need to prepare your community organization to handle both internal and external crises. Published by Indiana Main Street.
Momence, IL
Construction Mitigation Plan
Construction can be very disruptive for downtown businesses. Use this sample mitigation plan to help you develop your own strategy to assist your downtown businesses during a construction project. Published by Cumberland Main Street.
Brand Guidelines
Your organization's branding can represent the unique features of your downtown, remind people of the purpose of your organization, and help people stay engaged with your work. A comprehensive brand guide helps your staff and partners be consistent in how they represent your organization and your work. Published by Downtown Maryville Alliance.
Maryville, TN © Downtown Maryville Alliance
Media Communications for Advocacy Campaigns
How non-profits can use media, public relations, and communications outreach to achieve policy goals.
Using Social Media to Tell Your Downtown’s Story
Watch this webinar to learn the power of digital marketing and online promotions to drive excitement and engagement on social media.
Featured Resource
Explore Handbook
Crisis Management Handbook
Whether you are dealing with an internal crisis, like discrimination, or an external crisis, like a natural disaster, this handbook from Indiana Main Street provides a roadmap to help you be a strong community leader.
Franklin, Indiana © Indiana Main Street
Latest News & Stories
Main Spotlight: When Hollywood Comes to Main Street
Discover how historic downtowns across Louisiana saw economic and community benefits after they were featured in the film Sinners. The project spotlighted local architecture, employed community members, and infused new life into small‑town Main Streets.
Main Spotlight: How a $5,000 Grant Helped a Community Rebrand and Rebuild
Learn how Georgetown Village Restoration used an Accelerator grant from the Connecticut Main Street Center to build a merch program that supports the organization and the community.
Main Spotlight: The Economics of Fall Foliage Tourism
Fall foliage tourism has a substantial economic impact on small towns and rural areas nationwide. Learn how Main Streets can leverage their leaves to boost their communities this fall.
Main Spotlight: Walking Together to Connect a Community
Charles Town Now brings people together with an event that celebrates the importance of nothing. Discover how they organized the event and its lasting impact on the community.
Community Spotlight: Investing in Video and Photography to Shine a Spotlight on Main Streets
The Partnership for Haddonfield leverages high-quality photography and video to develop annual video and photography campaigns that drive holiday traffic and support local businesses.
Community Spotlight: Celebrating Spring with a Window Decorating Contest
Learn how Thomasville, Georgia, activates its storefronts each spring with a rose-themed window decorating contest.
Main Spotlight: How to Run a Main Street Blog
From technology and scheduling to writing and marketing, these tips will guide you through the process of setting up and running a blog for your organization.
Science on Main: Holiday Science with Main Street Malvern
Learn how Malvern brought the community together, and taught them something new, with their Holiday Wonders: In Science event.
Main Spotlight: Five Ideas for Successful Winter Events
Winter can be a challenging season for many Main Streets. Here are five ideas for events that will encourage people to brave the cold and come downtown.
Community Spotlight: How Science Inspires Main Streets
Three examples of creative science programming from grant recipients of the In the Path of Totality program.
How Free Music Experiences Strengthen America’s Main Streets
Music has a unifying power to bring people of all generations, backgrounds, and cultures together for creative expression. Let’s explore how accessible, family-friendly music experiences can strengthen Main Streets across America to build stronger communities, one concert at a time!
Community Spotlight: Halloween on Main Streets!
Happy Halloween! From small business trick or treating and parades to art installations and festivals, Main Streets across the Network love to go all out for spooky season.
