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.
Meeting in The Magic City: A Preview of the 2024 Main Street Now Conference Sessions
A family visits the Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park. Credit Art Meripol.
We are looking forward to joining you in Birmingham, Alabama, for the 2024 Main Street Now Conference, from May 6-8! Along with our co-host partners at the Main Street Alabama and Sweet Home Alabama, we are excited to convene with commercial district leaders from across the country and hold space for three days of insightful education sessions, unique special events, immersive mobile workshops, and memorable experiences in The Magic City.
From time-tested Main Street Approach techniques and leading-edge initiatives rooted in perennial topics and the Main Street Now 2024 themes—Welcoming & Belonging, Connectivity Through Civic Infrastructure, and Reimagining Local Spaces & Economies—this year’s session agenda is bursting with opportunity. Keep reading for a peek at a selection of the conference’s 130+ sessions and stay tuned for the full schedule debuting in late March.
Welcoming & Belonging
Left: "It’s Nice to Have You in Birmingham" mural. Right: A couple enjoy outdoor seating at Woodlawn Marketplace. Credit: Nathan Watson/Bham Now.
Engaging Latino Communities Through your Revitalization Efforts
The Hispanic population has accounted for 53 percent of the population growth in the United States over the last decade. Chances are that most cities and towns throughout the country have also noticed a growth in their culturally rich and tight-knit Latino communities. This session will provide an avenue to gain some tactical tips on how to engage and include Latino-owned businesses and neighbors in your revitalization efforts. From meeting attendance outreach to large-scale cultural events, you will learn how to connect and build trust with a community that is often overlooked and underserved. Presented by Ivan Gutierrez and Anette Landeros from the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Starting the DEIA Conversation
Join this facilitated discussion with Main Street America staff to learn why intentional inclusion should be a high priority for both organizations and communities alike. In this workshop, we will look at the economics and business case for inclusion and discuss steps of mobilizing your community and obtaining buy-in through the Main Street Approach™.
Connecting Communities through International Flavors and Stories
One of the best ways to learn more about your neighbors is to start a conversation about food. Stories are central to the Laramie International Flavor Festival, a volunteer-led event that features 20+ downtown restaurants offering specials inspired by international students, community members from 40+ nations, and multiple events. Now entering its third year, this week-long festival fosters community-building through authentic stories and flavors–contributing to Downtown Laramie’s economic vitality. New customers visit downtown venues to celebrate diverse international neighbors and influences. Attendees will gain tools to sculpt this model into a festival that brings unique communities together. Hosted by Ali Grossman and Deborah Ross of Laramie Main Street Alliance.
Connectivity Through Civic Infrastructure
Left: Cyclists use the new multi-modal flex lane on 20th Street N. Credit: Christina Argo. Center: Public outdoor seating on 20th Street N. Credit: REV Birmingham. Right: Visitors to Kelly Ingram Park. Credit: Greater Birmingham CVB.
Empowering Rural Voices: Strategies for Inclusive Community Leadership
Join Main Street America for a concise yet impactful 30-minute session tailored for community development leaders. We'll explore practical approaches to address power dynamics, strengthen civic foundations, and foster diverse voices in your community. Discover insights on navigating difficult conversations with finesse, establishing robust civic structures, and cultivating meaningful relationships. This session is designed to provide you with actionable tools and strategies to enhance your leadership in rural settings. Hosted by Jackie Swihart of Main Street America.
Co-Creating Civic Infrastructure for Vibrant, Connected Communities
Social isolation is a growing concern across the country. The recent U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on combating the loneliness epidemic calls for the development of a comprehensive national strategy for creating more social connection. Efforts in Macon, Georgia, and Detroit, Michigan, show that Main Streets have a unique opportunity to be part of the solution. Through action-oriented planning processes, diverse teams in downtown Macon and Detroit’s Fitzgerald neighborhood are redesigning and reprogramming the built environment to build a culture of connection. Learn how these collaborative efforts, with commercial districts at their heart, are co-creating civic infrastructure to deliver more connected, vibrant communities. Presented by Bridget Marquis of Reimagining the Civic Commons | U3 Advisors, Josh Rogers of NewTown Macon, and Caitlin Murphy of Live6 Alliance.
Civic Infrastructure of Action and Getting Stuff Done
The success of a Main Street is dependent on property owners, business owners, and elected officials believing in the potential and importance of Main Street. These people are the civic infrastructure that makes projects succeed and places flourish. But what happens when you don't have that buy-in or that personnel infrastructure in place? How do you create a Main Street that is loved, with businesses that thrive, and more access to growth for people from different parts of your demographics? This session will feature community leaders building this capacity right now, and method that every participant can take home. Hosted by Frankye Payne of Main Street America, Ilana Preuss of Recast City, and Chicago Main Street leaders.
Reimagining Local Spaces & Economies
Left: Shoppers at Pepper Place-Market. Credit Market at Pepper Place. Woodlawn mural by Jhamasa Lewis-Adams and Lydia Walker. Credit: REV Birmingham.
Partnering with the Public Library to Support Entrepreneurs
Libraries have not traditionally been viewed as key players in entrepreneurial ecosystems, yet public libraries across the U.S. and Canada provide services to local entrepreneurs every day. From free access to makerspaces, the internet, and other resources, to formal trainings and business planning support, libraries make entrepreneurship more accessible, especially for residents of color and other groups traditionally underrepresented in the small business community. This session will explore the types of services that libraries provide entrepreneurs and offer suggestions for Main Street programs and other economic development organizations that are interested in partnering with their local libraries. Hear from Katie Sullivan and Shamichael Hallman of Urban Libraries Council.
What Smartphone Location Data Means for Main Street
Mobile location data provides powerful insights into the behavior of visitors to Main Street districts: Who is visiting? When are they coming and how long are they staying? How does Main Street programming really impact visitation patterns? In this session, we will "introduce" this type of data and quickly showcase a few quick applications of the information for Main Street, focusing on its potential for understanding Main Street districts' market profiles, the demographic diversity of district visitors, and the impacts of events and other Main Street programming. Presented by Michael Powe, Ph.D. of Main Street America and Ian Ross of Placer.ai.
People-First Strategies for Place-Based Community Investment
Russell: A Place of Promise (RPOP) is a justice- based initiative focused on generating investments in the people and places of Louisville, Kentucky’s Russell neighborhood, a historically Black community just west of the central business district. RPOP’s investments are driven by a unique power-sharing model that centers resident values and priorities in defining place-based development and wealth-building initiatives, including Main Street-level business and large-scale commercial projects. This session will explore strategies and benefits of investing in people before substantial investments are made in place-based projects as a practice for building community wealth, sustainability, connection, and long-term success. Hosted by Theresa Zawacki of Russell: A Place of Promise and Cassandra Webb of Cities United and Russell: A Place of Promise.
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.