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Three Main Street America Staff members standing in front of a mural in Marion, Iowa.

Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams

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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.

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Two community members in Emporia Kansas pose with a sign saying "I'm a Main Streeter"

Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street

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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.

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Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America

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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!

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People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

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Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.

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Woman and girl at a festival booth in Kendall Whittier, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street

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Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

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Three Main Street America Staff members standing in front of a mural in Marion, Iowa.

Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams

About

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.

Overview Who We Are How We Work Partner Collaborations Our Supporters Our Team Job Opportunities Contact Us
Two community members in Emporia Kansas pose with a sign saying "I'm a Main Streeter"

Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street

Our Network

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.

Overview Coordinating Programs Main Street Communities Collective Impact Awards & Recognition Community Evaluation Framework Join the Movement
Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America

Resources

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!

Overview Knowledge Hub Field Services Government Relations Main Street Now Conference Main Street America Institute Small Business Support Allied Member Services The Point Members Area
People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

The Latest

Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.

Overview News & Stories Events & Opportunities Subscribe
Woman and girl at a festival booth in Kendall Whittier, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street

Get Involved

Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

Overview Join Us Renew Your Membership Donate Partner With Us Job Opportunities
Mercado in Kendall Whittier Main Street, Oklahoma.

Last week, Norma Ramirez de Meiss, Vice President of Revitalization Services at Main Street America, joined a panel of local development leaders from around the world to discuss the future of small and medium scale retail. The panel included Sydney Alison, Community Engagement Manager at Kendall Whittier Main Street, a 2020 GAMSA winner. The conversation was hosted by the OECD Local Development Forum, an international network of local development practitioners. Other participants included:

  • Jack Markell, U.S. Ambassador to the OECD and former Governor of Delaware
  • Hannah Wright, High Streets Task Force Board member (UK)
  • Pino Di Ioia, CEO of BeaverTails (Canada)
  • Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town (Ireland)
  • CJ Dippel, Senior Policy Advisor for Retail in Amsterdam (Netherlands)

The discussion focused on the factors influencing retail on Main Streets and High Streets across the world and the potential innovations that will shape the future. Below are some key takeaways.

Retail is Changing

The pandemic, the growth of e-commerce, the expansion of remote work, and other shifts have kick-started a transformation in the way retail operates across the world. Adjusted strategies will be crucial for business survival long-term, and local development organizations, like Main Streets, can play a critical role in supporting businesses through this transition. The Main Street Approach is a proven and effective strategy to create vibrant commercial districts that sustain existing businesses and support the creation of new ones.

Visioning and Collaborative Strategy Development

Local, regional, and national collaboration, data-sharing, and planning will be key in developing and maintaining small and medium size retail. High Street activations, like markets, festivals, and other events that increase foot traffic, are an important tool being used in the UK and other countries to support retailers. These efforts are most successful when supported by governments or other organizations, like Main Streets and BIDs. “We have seen how innovative retailers can be,” said Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town (Ireland). “But the locations in which retail is found, particularly city centers, will also have to adapt quickly and in a very dramatic way.”

Experiences are Essential

Placemaking, interactivity, and other experientially driven retail models will be crucial in attracting customers to Main Streets in the future. To compete with digital spaces, businesses and commercial districts alike need to give customers reasons to enter physical spaces and reasons to linger – including fostering multi-use downtown districts, improving the outdoor experience, and completely reimagining public spaces. At the same time, they need to ensure these spaces are welcoming to everyone by considering accessibility, cultural factors, language, and other measures of inclusivity.

Local Governments are Important Allies

Advocacy and partnerships with governments are powerful tools to support local retailers. “For local government, the task is to monitor these developments, like remote working and remote shopping, and then adapt the built environment to it, come up with rules, or support local entrepreneurs as much as possible to cope with these challenges” said CJ Dippel, Senior Policy Advisor for Retail in Amsterdam (Netherlands). As governments are developing new policies that reflect the changing retail environment, allied organizations, like Main Streets and BIDs, need to ensure their perspectives are represented.

Looking Forward

Local, regional, national, and international cooperation and innovation will be critical in navigating the changing future and protecting small and medium sized retailers. “This really shows off the OECD at its best when we find opportunities for the thirty-eight member countries to learn from each other,” said Ambassador Jack Markell, US Representative to the OECD. Watch the entire webinar below to learn more about how local development and retail support services are practiced around the world.