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: Investigating Transformation Strategies in Stevenson and Vancouver, Washington
Workshop participants in downtown Vancouver, Wash. Photo by Alicia Gallo/Main Street America.
On October 3, 2023, Main Street leaders from across the country convened in the theater of the Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson, Washington, for the first day of the Community Transformation Workshop, offered by the Main Street America Institute (MSAI). With coffee in hand, attendees gathered to ponder a very important question: "What do you want to learn from this workshop?”
Digging into Transformation Strategies was top of mind for many participants. Building community and consensus, understanding and leveraging data, and developing effective solutions were common responses as well. With learning objectives identified, Main Street America staff instructors launched into the curriculum. Over the course of the next two days, these topics served as steadfast anchors, emerging as probing questions, thoughtful theories, and energetic discourse.
Data + Observation = Winning Formula
Workshop participants analyze data for Stevenson, Wash., (left) and interview the owner of Traverse PNW Market to gather additional insight into economic challenges and opportunities (right). Photos by Alicia Gallo/Main Street America.
Workshop participants were highly engaged in data analysis and transformation strategy work planning exercises, with many asking questions informed by critical analysis of the data generated through census records, economic indicators, and other sources. The big takeaway was that while helpful, numbers don’t tell the whole story. Digging into the data, asking questions, and pairing data reports with information collected through conversations with residents and community members will offer a fuller picture of a district’s challenges and opportunities for growth.
Place-Based Solutions in Action: Similar Problems, Different Solutions
The Vancouver, Wash., district tour included a stop at Dandelion Teahouse & Apothecary for conversation with the owner and refreshments. Photo by Alicia Gallo/Main Street America.
Throughout the two-day workshop, instructors utilized case studies to demonstrate the importance of rooting Transformation Strategies in a Main Street district’s unique circumstances and individual needs. Walkabouts through downtown Stevenson and Vancouver offered an example of this approach in action: two innovative solutions developed in response to addressing the need for enhancing the visitor experience.
In Stevenson, a scenic byway serves as the district’s Main Street, with vehicle traffic moving quickly and in high volume, especially during the busy summer season. To enhance safety and increase accessibility, high visibility pedestrian crossing signs and communal signal flags were installed at crosswalks.
In Vancouver, the Pacific Northwest’s infamous rainy climate can sometimes deter residents and visitors alike from venturing outside of their homes and into local businesses. An umbrella-lending program with borrow/return stations at shops helps keep visitors covered while they shop downtown.
Although each downtown district is distinctly different in their location, size, and character, both Main Street programs are finding solutions rooted in similar principles and tailored to meet the needs of their communities.
Tangible Takeaways
After two days of deep dives into data, in-depth discussions, and district exploration—and some time to reflect as they traveled home—what were the biggest takeaways? Here are a few perspectives that participants shared:
“Engagement is a two-way street, and we need to leverage our market data to better engage with our residents. I'll be working with my board to share our local data and examine additional ways to stimulate active engagement with our district beyond surveys.” “Seeing two starkly different communities and their unique challenges was hugely beneficial in reinforcing that Transformation Strategies are truly unique for every place and that every place has to find their ‘why’ behind Main Street work. What works in one community isn't always going to be relevant for another. We have to use market-informed decision making for maximum success.”
The Community Transformation Workshop is offered annually each fall. For more information about this educational opportunity, click here.
Franklin Bronze Plaques, a Main Street America Allied Member, is this quarter's Main Spotlight advertiser. For more information about the products and services they provide to Main Street organizations, click here >
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.
Online registration and the regular rate are available through Friday, April 26. Download the conference mobile app, sign-up for the attendee webinar, grab some Shop Main Street merch, get recommendations, and more!
With just a little over a month to go until we convene in Birmingham, Alabama, for the 2024 Main Street Now Conference from May 6-8, we are excited to announce that the full schedule is available online and the mobile app is ready for download.
From budgets and staffing to programming priorities and the myriad of backgrounds that bring people to Main Street, the insights and key findings from this year's trends survey provide a snapshot of the state of the Main Street Movement.
REV Birmingham and Woodlawn United share how they work to reenergize spaces and places in Birmingham, Alabama, through civic infrastructure projects in the city’s historic commercial corridors.
With a specially priced registration rate of $199, tailored education track, free lunch & learn session, and abundant networking opportunities, Main Street Now 2024 is made for civic leaders passionate about community preservation and economic development in historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial corridors.
Opportunities to experience time-tested Main Street Approach techniques and creative solutions in action abound in Birmingham with these great excursions.
Starting in early 2024, we will engage in an intensive program assessment of MSAI. We look forward to bringing an enhanced Main Street professional development experience to the network later in the year.
Founded in 2003 and currently housed within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Main Street (MMS) recently celebrated 20 years of impact across 41 communities.
This three-week live, online course will prepare local leaders to more effectively work with small business owners in their districts and create an environment that is supportive of entrepreneurship.
We are excited to share a recent collaboration with Spark! Places of Innovation, a traveling exhibition curated by the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program.
We are excited to welcome Jenice Contreras to the Main Street America Board of Directors. Jenice has a long record of leadership across community and economic development with deep experience with equitable growth, small-scale development, and cultural preservation.
Join Main Street America experts in Vancouver, Wash., to gain first-hand experience in harnessing transformation strategies to successfully revitalize your Main Street!
We are excited to announce that 862 Main Street programs across the country have earned Accredited status, Main Street America’s top level of recognition.
The MSARP credential is the highest level of achievement offered through the Main Street America Institute, requiring dedication to completing a rigorous curriculum of online courses, readings, assignments, workshops, and a challenging final exam.
Over the course of three days, nearly 1900 Main Streeters from near and far gathered for dynamic educational sessions, immersive mobile workshops, and network-building activities.
Check out our new shop featuring clothing and apparel, accessories, home and office goods, and kids’ and baby items inspired by the Main Street Movement.
Main Street America is proud to recognize John Bry, Program Coordinator at Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) in Michigan, as the 2023 Mary Means Leadership Award recipient.
We’re excited to announce a new suite of resources designed for Main Street! The Main Street Foundations Series provides an overview of each Point through four comprehensive introductory videos, one-page guides, materials from our resource center, and more.
From the ongoing pivots needed to meet changing community needs to the timeless power of place, these are the most popular blog posts we published this year.
At the Opening Plenary at the Main Street Now Conference in Richmond, Virginia, Patrice Frey shared lessons and reflections from her past nine years at Main Street.
Leverage NC, a partnership between North Carolina Main Street and the North Carolina League of Municipalities, hosted a four-part webinar series titled Better Community Planning & Economic Development led by Ed McMahon, Chair Emeritus of Main Street America and a leading national authority on land use policy and economic development.
A series of small, incremental improvements, when taken together, provide momentum for long-term economic transformation and improved quality of life in a community.
The National Main Street Center, Inc. announced the 2017 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) during its annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The National Main Street Center and the Brookings Institution have jointly authored a response to Mr. Hyman’s piece, The Reality of Main Street, that is featured on Brookings’ blog.
Michigan Main Street Center was the first Coordinating Program to implement the new Main Street approach on a large scale. In this article, they share their robust process and valuable lessons.
Fritz the dog has made his way into the hearts of the residents of LaBelle, Florida, and helped our Main Street Community find a way to make what we do more noticeable.
Back in October 2015, we introduced the three key components of the refreshed Main Street Approach: inputs, outputs and Community Transformation Strategies.
For a lucky few downtowns, greatness may happen effortlessly with a strong sense of place that seems to develop organically and simply sustain itself. For most places, success doesn’t happen by chance.
While there have been over $1.2 billion in public and private investment in Wisconsin Main Street communities over the past 27 years, what really makes it special are the people and places that have been involved.
Although a “beach town,” Rehoboth Beach is open 365 days a year, and with that has the unique challenge of catering to both year-round residents and tourists within a wide range of ages, interests and economic levels
In communities across the country, hardworking business owners and buy local advocates come together to foster an organized effort to reinvent and revitalize Main Streets and downtown districts.
The National Main Street Center is pleased to announce that Cape Girardeau, Mo., Montclair Center, N.J., and Rawlins, Wyo. were selected as the 2015 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA) winners.