Join us for three days of learning, connecting, and celebrating at Main Street Now 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 7 – 9.
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Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams
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.
Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street
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.
Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America
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!
Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo
Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.
Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street
Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
It is vital to our nation’s Main Streets and their communities that as many people as possible complete the 2020 Census. Occurring every 10 years, the U.S. Census strives to count the entire population of the United States. The data collected from the census will impact communities for the next decade, from federal funding to political representation to accurate data about the people in your town. The September 30th deadline to respond to the 2020 Census is quickly approaching but there is still time to encourage your community to fill it out.
Everyone counts! The 2020 Census does not ask about citizenship status, and aims to count everyone living in the country, including non-citizens. Answers to the census cannot be shared with law enforcement or used against responders. Learn more about these common concerns regarding the 2020 Census.
The 2020 Census data informs the distribution of more than $1.5 trillion of federal funds. These funds support essential programs related to economic development, housing, transportation, food assistance, and hundreds of other programs benefiting local governments, nonprofits, small businesses, and households.
Main Street programs and their partners directly and indirectly benefit from the information and allocation of funds determined by the census. Among many, some of the programs whose allocations are determined by the census include the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Low Income Housing Tax Credits.
“In many cases, these funds make it possible for public-private partnerships to fuel comprehensive community development,” wrote Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President of LISC, in a recent article. “An inaccurate count would exacerbate existing inequities, hindering the vital work of community-based organizations, state and local governments, and others striving to expand access to resources and create healthy, thriving and sustainable communities across the country.”
This sentiment is especially true for rural communities as policymakers use census data to plan and fund many programs that specifically affect small towns. In 2010, the Census data shaped programs related to rural business enterprise grants, rural housing preservation grants, and rural education—just to name a few. Additionally, the Census data informs how funds to these programs are distributed, affecting distribution information such as eligibility criteria, allocation formulas, selection preferences, and interest rates.
"When residents live in an area that's more rural than urban, they are trying to make decisions like how to build schools, what services need to be offered," said Mary Craigle, Chief of the Research and Information Services Bureau at the Montana Department of Commerce, on how the census shapes our communities. "Really, the only source of data that we have is U.S. Census Bureau data. The census is the one chance to get that really great information for rural America."
Communities across the Main Street America Network are working hard to keep their residents informed about—and engaged with—the 2020 U.S. Census.
When it comes to the importance of the census for Main Street, every effort counts. If you haven’t already, be sure your Main Street program is sharing the 2020 Census and promoting the essential information and vital impact it will have on your community throughout the next decade. Plus, several organizations have been funding available for those nonprofits working to increase census responses, such this Instagrant program through the LOR Foundation for those in the rural Mountain West.
Need assistance getting started on sharing the Census with your community? Download these easy-to-use social media graphics and share on your social channels today!
Over 50 Main Street advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators and government leaders and share information about the Main Street movement.
The Government Relations team shares some key policy updates from 2024 and advocacy priorities for 2025.
Main Street America supports new proposed legislation to strengthen organizations that support small businesses and commercial districts.
Learn how your Main Street can support voters, manage relationships, and impact policy during and after the election.
Learn how Main Streets can tap into federal resources to improve transportation infrastructure, take down barriers, and improve access to key services.
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 federal funding to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation infrastructure that creates barriers to community connectivity.
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.
Understanding the Advisory Council on Historic Preservations report on federal historic preservation standards.
Toccoa, GA © Steph Maley
Michael Jarosz, Coordinator of Government Relations, provides details on this productive day on the Hill and offers insights into the impacts that are already emerging from their advocacy efforts.
Learn how the HUD Pro Housing Program and other opportunities can help you increase affordable housing in your community.
Learn how Majd Alsaif, Celeste Constancio, and Leilani Commons supported Main Street America this summer.
Learn how you can participate in the Thriving Communities program as a capacity builder or how you can receive support from the program.
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.
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.
Learn the results of our Capitol Hill Day, the first to bring Main Street leaders together around a Main Street-focused agenda.
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 after the American Rescue Plan Act, we are celebrating successful Main Street projects and sharing lessons learned in advocating for federal funds.
Key advocacy and policy updates from the 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill.
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 Street America is proud to support the Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act
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 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
Learn more about small business needs in the pandemic.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As Main Street practitioners, our work is constantly impacted by decisions made by governing bodies at the local, state and federal level.
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.
