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.
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.
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!
Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
Main Spotlight: Community Preservation in the Modern South
Unveiling of a mural in downtown Stockbridge. Photo courtesy of Stockbridge Main Street.
The other Martin Luther King
Today, the little-known story of Martin Luther King Jr’s father is being explored in a small town in Georgia. Before they became public figures, the Kings lived in the small rural township of Stockbridge, twenty miles south of Atlanta. That is where Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., sometimes known as Daddy King, preached his first sermon at about age fourteen. His son, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK), became one of the most celebrated figures of the Civil Rights movement. Their legacy is honored around the Atlanta area, including Stockbridge.
When Daddy King was growing up, the town was just beginning to take shape. The introduction of the railroad, a post office, and a few shops transformed the downtown. Services such as a blacksmith, a cotton trade, and a general store were essential features in people’s lives. In his autobiography, Daddy King, who was born around 1899, wrote about going into town at Stockbridge with his father in a mule-drawn cart to sell bales of cotton and seed. As a teen, he took a job stoking coal on the same railway that runs through downtown Stockbridge today.
Daddy King was a maverick in his own right. He was a pioneer in American civil rights as a young man. In 1935, he used his influence as a pastor to galvanize support against social injustices like systematic blocking of voter registration (King & Riley, 1980). Later, he fought against disparities in teachers’ pay in Atlanta. In the late ‘70s, he endorsed Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter’s run for presidency. King Sr. also had the honor of speaking at the Lincoln Monument on the day of President Carter’s inauguration in 1977.
Heritage: A Return on Investment
There were merely 836 residents when Stockbridge was incorporated in 1920. The historic downtown area remained mostly unchanged for years and almost became obsolete in the 1980s. Very few quality buildings remained. Gradually, area plantations were sold to build housing developments, and the city became a bedroom community starting in the 1990s. Today, the thriving suburb of Stockbridge has a population of 30,000.
A large percent of current Stockbridge residents are newcomers from around the US. Many of them came from bigger cities, bringing new ideas and skills with them, and they desired a set of amenities and cultural attractions that Stockbridge lacked. Enter, the Stockbridge Main Street Program. Since its inception in 2015, the Main Street staff has worked to generate interest in the community and create a sense of place in downtown Stockbridge. In coordination with the city’s event staff, activities have included summer concerts, movies on the green, car shows, a multicultural fall festival, and a winter extravaganza. New amenities have been introduced such as a dog park, little free libraries, and a three-mile walking trail which cuts right through downtown and connects two beautiful city parks. Most recently, there was the installation of the first in a series of planned murals and public art.
The King family’s origins are no secret, but until now, the topic was not widely discussed. Over the past few years, the City of Stockbridge has begun embracing its role in history as the King ancestral home, and it has become a source of community pride and identity. In 2015, the city, encouraged by community groups, renamed the Main Street “Martin Luther King, Sr. Heritage Trail,” in honor of its native son. With that, revitalization efforts in the downtown district began. Investment in infrastructure, economic opportunities, and promoting heritage tourism has become a priority.
Several historic markers have been installed, including one at Floyd Chapel; the slave-era house of worship where Daddy King was ordained in his youth (King & Riley, 1980). The church is now listed as one of the stops on the State of Georgia’s Footsteps of MLK, Jr. Trail. Pole banners baring Daddy King’s image are hung along the trail leading to the historic rock quarry where MLK’s grandfather once worked in the 1800s.
Looking to the Future
Stockbridge has evolved significantly in a short amount of time. In 2018, the city elected its first all-African American mayor and council. The Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia created a downtown masterplan that will help continue and grow this transformation. The city celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2020.
Although only eight of the original buildings still stand, today’s downtown has grown to include artisan shops, hair and nail salons, a supermarket, and more. The look and feel of the neighborhood are evolving as storefronts have undergone façade improvements with the help of Downtown Development Authority grants. Stockbridge opened a state-of-the-art amphitheater in 2021 and plans for a cultural arts center with a history museum have been solidified for 2024.
Today, Stockbridge is home to the most diverse population in its history. Like many modern communities in the American South, it embraces its complex history and welcomes longstanding residents and newcomers to explore and understand the whole story. Stockbridge, Georgia is where community connects.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Every year, H2BE holds their Juneteenth Mobility Stroll and Roll in Dearborn, MI, which celebrates Black Americans and improves local connections. Learn more about the event and why Juneteenth is important to this community.
Do you want to support the next generation of Main Street leadership! Start a youth board! Learn how Historic Downtown Clinton set theirs up and how your organization can benefit from one.
The Main Street Movement is a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community. We spoke to Main Street leaders about how they support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride and beyond.
On May 9, the National Trust for Historic Preservation released its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2023 which included a cultural district located within a designated Main Street America community.
The annual Cinco de Mayo Parade and Fiesta in the Mexicantown Main Street district offers a great example of collaborative partnerships that honor the community’s cultural heritage and support local businesses through events.
Meet Kavi, the first Indian American Girl of the Year doll and a (fictional) resident of 2023 Great American Main Street Award winner Metuchen, New Jersey!
Community Development Block Grants are powerful tools for Main Street programs. Learn more about how CDBG's can be applied to our work and how you can advocate for the program
Main Street America was awarded $5.9 million to support 20 communities in the Main Streets Community of Practice through the Department of Transportation's Thriving Communities Program over the next two years.
We spoke to three women who were awarded Inclusive Backing grants to learn more about their passions, their businesses, and their advice for other women.
Anette Landeros, President and CEO of Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, shares the importance of supporting Hispanic business owners and communities.
#EquityRising, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation's new job training program, seeks to combat rising cost of living by helping residents train for careers that will allow them to stay in their neighborhood.
We spoke to three Black business owners who were awarded Backing Small Businesses grants from Main Street America and American Express to better understand their challenges, successes, and the kinds of support that have helped them the most.
Juneteenth is the anniversary of the final emancipation of enslaved people in the US. Here are five examples of examples of community celebrations from Main Streets across the network.
Oklahoma is home to the headquarters of nearly 40 federally recognized Native American tribes, and many of their offices, cultural sites, and museums are located close to or within Main Street districts.
Kendall Whittier is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in an ever-diversifying Tulsa. Learn how they are making efforts to engage their large Hispanic community.
We spoke with two Black entrepreneurs in UrbanMain commercial districts: L. May Creations in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago and The Four Way in south Memphis, Tennessee.
Main Street America is committed to helping build inclusive communities. Homelessness is an increasingly important issue facing Main Street communities big and small, urban and rural.
To understand the role that immigrant business owners play in Boston’s small business ecosystem, you need only to walk through any Boston Main Streets district.