Advocacy Spotlight: Improving Connectivity in Main Streets through Infrastructure Investments
Learn how Main Streets can tap into federal resources to improve transportation infrastructure, take down barriers, and improve access to key services.
Representatives from Main Street America and Coordinating Programs gathered in Washington, D.C., for the second annual Hill Day.
Earlier this month, folks from Main Street programs across 13 states went to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress for Main Street America’s second annual Hill Day. Participants forged new relationships with policymakers and federal agency leaders, speaking about their Main Street programs, describing the challenges they face, and sharing the successes they’ve seen in their communities. They advocated for federal programs and funding that support thriving Main Street districts through economic development and community preservation, and they came prepared with specific asks to legislators that would improve their ability to support Main Streets.
Forging New Connections
Our time in D.C. resulted in stronger connections and new relationships. Before meeting with Congressional offices, participants got the chance to connect with folks from other organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, KABOOM!, the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network, and Living Cities. Additionally, we met with representatives from a number of federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). We enjoyed connecting with old friends, creating new relationships, and identifying shared interests. These relationships will continue to improve Main Street America’s presence in the policymaking space.
-
Main Street New Jersey meeting with Representative Jefferson Van Drew. Photo courtesy of Main Street New Jersey.
-
Mississippi Main Street meeting with Senator Wicker. Photo courtesy of Mississippi Main Street.
In total, Main Street members met with over 70 Senate and House offices during Hill Day. Participants spoke with members on both sides of the aisle from states including Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and West Virginia. They were met with attention and positive reception from members of Congress and the Administration alike. Throughout the day, Main Streeters could be seen exploring the halls of Congress, dining in the Congressional cafeterias, walking (and running) up Capitol Hill, visiting the Library of Congress, sitting in constituent coffees in the Capitol Complex, and celebrating the culmination of a successful day of meetings together on Capitol Hill.
Policy Priorities
During meetings, we advocated for funding to promote thriving Main Street communities. We requested that members of Congress support a funding line of $25 million for DOT’s Thriving Communities program in fiscal year 2025. We also asked members of Congress to sustain the Community Development Block Grant at $4.2 billion in fiscal year 2025 to ensure a vital resource for communities to redevelop and rehabilitate buildings remains. You can learn more about those asks here.
On the historic preservation side, we advocated for funding and legislation to support historic preservation in Main Street districts. We urged members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 1785/S.639, the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC-GO), which would offer several key improvements to the current program, including increasing the credit for small projects. We also requested robust funding of $225 million in fiscal year 2025 for the Historic Preservation Fund, including its competitive grant programs. We know the impact these programs have in Main Street districts, and we are hopeful to see continued funding. You can learn more about those asks here.
Kansas Coordinator Scott Sewell and Main Street America’s Michael Jarosz meeting with Senator Roger Marshall.
Emerging Impacts
We observed successes across the board during our Hill Day visits. At least one member of Congress we met with agreed to co-sponsor HTC-GO. Additionally, several members that sit on House and Senate appropriations committees supported the funding levels we requested for key programs in fiscal year 2025, laying the groundwork for next fiscal year’s advocacy on federal appropriations. Another member of Congress expressed support for a transportation bill that would improve safety and promote multimodal transit projects which would positively impact Main Streets. Additionally, many other topics emerged organically as our partners connected with legislators. They discussed things like bills to support small businesses and advance housing. These visits deepened our engagement with emerging federal policies that support Main Street districts. We were impressed by the level of engagement we received from Congress, and we look forward to growing Main Street America’s role in the federal policymaking process.
Thank you to the participants, partners, and Members of Congress who shared time and knowledge with us!
If you would like to engage in our advocacy work and join for next year’s Hill Day, please feel free to reach out to the Main Street America Government Relations team at advocacy@mainstreet.org.
Community Heart & Soul, 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 >
Related News and Stories
Apply for the USDOT RAISE Grant to Improve Your District’s Transportation Infrastructure
The RAISE program funds surface transportation projects with local and regional impact by enhancing safety, mobility, sustainability, and economic growth.
Streetscape improvements can make a big difference for Main Streets. © Grant Harper
Apply for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program Grant
Apply for federal funding to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation infrastructure that creates barriers to community connectivity.
Advocacy Spotlight: Transportation is a Key Component of Downtown Revitalization
Streets play an important role in our downtown districts. Learn more about Main Street America's recent work with the Department of Transportation to promote vibrant and sustainable downtown roadways.
Main Street and Preservation Policy: Understanding the Advisory Council on Historic Preservations Report on Federal Historic Preservation Standards
Understanding the Advisory Council on Historic Preservations report on federal historic preservation standards.
Toccoa, GA © Steph Maley
Historic Preservation Advocacy to Help Overcome the Housing Crisis: HUD Pro Housing Program and Other Opportunities
Learn how the HUD Pro Housing Program and other opportunities can help you increase affordable housing in your community.
Main Spotlight: Exploring the 2023 Summer Intern Projects
Learn how Majd Alsaif, Celeste Constancio, and Leilani Commons supported Main Street America this summer.
Thriving Communities Program FY23 Program: Hands-on capacity building support for infrastructure projects
Learn how you can participate in the Thriving Communities program as a capacity builder or how you can receive support from the program.
A Big Win for Older Buildings, Main Streets, and the Climate
Learn how the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) and the Clean Communities Accelerator Fund (CCIA) will pump billions of dollars into reducing carbon emissions from the built environment in the coming years.
A Match Made on Main Street: Channeling Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Dollars to Small-Scale Deals
Main Street America is leading a coalition urging that the EPA make available the GGRF funds for adaptive reuse and location-efficient projects because of the substantial greenhouse gas emissions reduction offered by such developments.
Main Spotlight: Main Street at the Capitol
Learn the results of our Capitol Hill Day, the first to bring Main Street leaders together around a Main Street-focused agenda.
Main Street America Celebrates National Community Development Week
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
Two Years of ARPA on Main Street
Two years after the American Rescue Plan Act, we are celebrating successful Main Street projects and sharing lessons learned in advocating for federal funds.
Omnibus Includes Funding, Disaster Relief and ARPA Rules
Key advocacy and policy updates from the 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill.
Introduce Yourself: Relationship-Building for Main Street Advocacy
Kelly Humrichouser, Director of Government Relations, shares a short guide on how you can reach out to your representatives and engage them in a conversation about the importance of your work.
Main Spotlight: The Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act
Main Street America is proud to support the Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act
Main Spotlight: Behind the Ribbon Cutting — The Merwyn Building
How do those amazing Main Street rehabilitation projects happen? And what policies and public support make them happen? In the Behind the Ribbon Cutting series, we look at a project or businesses from concept to opening day to break down the partnerships and funding brought to bear and recognize how we can advocate for policies and resources for revitalization across the country.
Astoria, OR © ADHDA
Main Spotlight: Funding Main Street Recovery through American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Dollars
Main Streets and small businesses are benefiting from the strategic use of ARPA State and Local Recovery Funds through the advocacy and innovation of local leaders and decision-makers.
San Marcos, TX © Andy Heatwole
Congress Throws Lifeline to Small Businesses, But Fight for Main Streets Continues into New Year
Learn more about small business needs in the pandemic.
New Research from Brookings and the National Main Street Center on the Value of Main Street Organizations
The Brookings Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking released a new series of research briefs focused on the role that place governance organizations, like Main Street programs, play in revitalizing rural downtowns and promoting equitable rural economic and community development.
Main Streets Speak Up for National Parks
Many Main Streets serve as gateways to national parks and find a significant portion of their tourism economy tied to the well-being of the nearest national park.
Determined Advocacy Preserves the Historic Tax Credit
After more than five years of consistent advocacy, the 20 percent historic tax credit (HTC) has survived the most significant rewrite of the tax code in more than 30 years.
Why Main Street Doesn’t See More Historic Tax Credit Financing and What Can Be Done About It
In the midst of this human and cultural disaster, the Main Street program, managed by the Ellicott City Partnership, collaborated with Preservation Maryland to provide a variety of disaster relief financing that helped expedite the recovery.
Developing a Strong Main Street Advocacy Program to Drive Your Organization to Legislative Success
As Main Street practitioners, our work is constantly impacted by decisions made by governing bodies at the local, state and federal level.
Historic Tax Credits: A Good Return for the Money
We measure the effectiveness of our last marketing campaign, weigh whether the investment in new street lights outweigh the political capital spent, and debate if the thousands of volunteer hours are worth the impacts created by a one-day event.
