Main Spotlight: Plug-In Spaces — How Main Street Businesses Are Rewiring Civic Life
Learn how plug-in spaces promote social connections and foster community and connection.
Main Street businesses play an important role in our communities. Photo by City of Thomasville.
This year was a big year for small businesses on Main Streets! Small businesses are the heart of our communities. They create jobs, strengthen local economies, and foster meaningful connections between people and place. Small businesses activate downtowns, support civic life, and help ensure Main Streets remain vibrant, resilient, and community-centered.
This year has also shown the importance of robust, locally-driven support for small businesses. Our research has shown that Main Street business confidence was at record lows this year, and many are relying on holiday sales to improve their financial positions and drive success in 2026.
On our blog, we shared stories of Main Street business innovation, community, and growth. Here are four stories about small businesses from the past year.
Program Spotlight: How Kentucky’s Main Streets Are Building Digital Resilience
Our Small Business Digital Coaching program helped small business owners in Cumberland, Shelbyville, Pikeville, and Beattyville, Kentucky, build their digital presence for long-term success.
Main Spotlight: How Small Business Accelerators Can Help Artists Move from Hobbyists to Business Owners
Discover how Mount Vernon Downtown Association’s artisan retail market, The LIDO Collective, provides local artists with a place to build their confidence, learn business skills, and grow their client base – all while revitalizing their downtown core.
Community Spotlight: How Anniston’s Karla Eden is Rewriting the Playbook for Small Business Success
Learn how Karla Eden at Main Street Anniston in Anniston, Alabama, built a small business support program based around the GETUP Anniston training program and pitch contest.
Related News and Stories
Community Spotlight: How Anniston’s Karla Eden is Rewriting the Playbook for Small Business Success
Learn how Karla Eden at Main Street Anniston in Anniston, Alabama, built a small business support program based around the GETUP Anniston training program and pitch contest.
New Podcast Episode: Growing a Business with Intention
In a new episode of our Main Street Business Insights podcast, host Matt Wagner sits down with Angela Mallett, founder of Honeybee Sage Wellness & Apothecary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their conversation, Angela shares her intentional approach to growth, one that prioritizes community care and cultural healing over rapid expansion.
New Podcast Episode: Recovering After Catastrophe
In this special roundtable episode, host Matt Wagner sits down with community leaders from Spruce Pine, North Carolina, one year after Hurricane Helene devastated their downtown. This episode provides insights on how Main Street leaders and business owners can learn how to be better prepared for disaster from others who have recently gone through recovery efforts.
