Main Street America

Building Stronger Communities Together

Aerial of Alberta Main Street in Portland, Oregon. — Alberta District — Portland, Oregon © Naim Hasan Photography

Main Street America leads an inclusive, impact-driven movement dedicated to reenergizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts nationwide.

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Programs and resources just for you

Kids breakdancing in front of an audience. — Metuchen, New Jersey © Richard Alfonzo Photography

Knowledge Hub
Explore our comprehensive digital library containing 100s of best-in-class community development materials.
Professional Development
The Main Street America Academy is the leading provider of education for downtown and commercial district leaders.
Field Services
Our team of experts offers on-the-ground training to help make your vision for your community a reality.

Events & Opportunities

May

19

2026

The Levitt Model: Building Community Through Free Outdoor Concerts

This engaging session will cover the Levitt Music Series Toolkit with best practices across concert series production, including programming and community co-curation, partnerships and outreach, marketing, public safety, volunteer engagement, and fundraising.
May

27

2026

Small Business Webinar: The Operations Tune-Up: Applying Lean Thinking to Small-Scale Production

In this webinar, we take a clear, grounded look at how operations actually work inside a small business.
May

14

2026

Register: Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street Course May 2026

Generously sponsored by U.S. Bank, this Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street course offers practical tools and perspectives to foster a resilient, vibrant economy by strengthening your community’s property and small business ownership ecosystem.

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Destination: Main Street

With over 1,600 community coalitions nationwide, there’s something for everyone on Main Street. Explore our inspiring member network.

People walking in a pride parade with rainbow flags and rainbow clothes

Downtown Sykesville Connection

Kids in colorful dance dresses performing a routine in a park — Farmington, Michigan. © David Lewinski

Main Street Farmington

People wearing red and blue clothing and carrying American flags walk down a downtown street — Wytheville’s 4^th of July celebration brought patriotic fun to the downtown. Photo by Michelle Govin Photography.

Downtown Wytheville, Inc.

Six musicians perform on a stage. — Denison’s Arts and Jazz Fest features live jazz throughout downtown. Discover Denison, Denison Arts Council, local school jazz bands, and over a dozen local art vendors worked together to provide this unique experience. © Randy Sedlacek

Denison, Texas

2025 Great American Main Street Awards Winner

Raton, New Mexico

2025 Great American Main Street Awards Winner

Bearded man is shaving wood intently to create hand-made furniture. — Furniture maker Robby Pederson and his custom furniture store, RVP~1875, is one of Jefferson’s top tourism entities, connecting the history of the community and region with modern experiences and functionality. © Matt Wetrich

Jefferson, Iowa

2025 Great American Main Street Awards Winner

Featured Resource

Main Street Disaster and Resilience Toolkit

Get the tools to plan for, prepare for, and recover from natural disasters in your community. Download the toolkit here.

Volunteers in a downtown park cleaning up fallen tree limbs and other debris — Marion, IA © Uptown Marion

Recent News and Stories

Community Spotlight: Independent Bookstores on Main Streets

Middlebury, Vermont, and Lansing, Michigan, celebrate their local bookstores and share the important role that independent bookstores play on Main Streets.

April 25, 2026

A person sitting in a chair reading a book in a store filled with books — Independent bookstores play an important role on Main Streets. Photo courtesy of Downtown Lansing, Inc.

Storytelling

Just Announced: 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award Recipients

Main Street America is proud to recognize Liz Parham, Ron Frantz, and Trey Sherwood as the recipients of the 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award.

April 15, 2026

Announcement

Making the Case for Economic Development: Main Street Now 2026 Day Three

Nathan Ohle, President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council, shared how the economic development field is moving towards a systems approach that is more aligned with Main Streets.

April 15, 2026

Nathan Ohle and Erin Barnes © Tom Gilbert/Rogue Monkey Media for the 2026 Main Street Now Conference

Insights

Durable Leadership: Main Street Now 2026 Day Two

Past and present leaders from the Main Street movement share their perspectives on where we came from and how we can build a more durable future.

April 14, 2026

Kennedy Smith and Erin Barnes © Tom Gilbert/Rogue Monkey Media for the 2026 Main Street Now Conference

Insights

Telling Our Story: Main Street Now 2026 Day One

Insights and perspectives from the opening plenary of the 2026 Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

April 13, 2026

A crowd of people holding little printed cartoon pictures of Will Rogers — Celebrating Will Roger’s legacy during the opening plenary. © Tom Gilbert/Rogue Monkey Media for the 2026 Main Street Now Conference

Insights

Main Spotlight: Announcing the 2026 Great American Main Street Award Winners

Main Street America is proud to recognize Downtown Wytheville, Inc. in Wytheville, Virginia; Downtown Sykesville Connection in Sykesville, Maryland; and Main Street Farmington in Farmington, Michigan, as the 2026 Great American Main Street Award winners.

April 13, 2026

Collage of photos. From left: People at a downtown street fair, people walking in a 4th of july parade, and people dancing on the sidewalk for mardi gras — From left: Sykesville, Maryland © Downtown Sykesville Connection; Wytheville, Virginia © Michelle Govin Photography; Farmington, Michigan © David Lewinski.

Announcement

Take Me to Tulsa: Experience The Capital of Route 66® at Main Street Now 2026

Start making your list of the restaurants, coffee shops, museums, parks, and cultural attractions you want to explore during your time in Tulsa for Main Street Now 2026!

April 7, 2026

A street in Tulsa with a historic clock and historic brick buildings — Tulsa’s Centennial Clock sits on the Williams Center Green in downtown Tulsa, facing down Boston Avenue. Photo by Tyler Layne Photography.

Storytelling

Spring into Downtown Design with the Main Street America Academy

This April, the Main Street America Academy is focusing on Design! From streetscapes and signage to preservation and accessibility, design shapes your Main Street's identity, nurtures civic engagement, and lays the groundwork for growth. Deepen your knowledge of the role and impact of design in Main Street efforts with these learning experiences and resources.

April 6, 2026

A tree-lined Main Street with well-maintained historic buildings and people resting on public seating. — Design plays a crucial role in Main Street efforts. Photo by Alicia Gallo

Announcements

Unlocking Capital Grants Awarded to Six Main Street Communities

Through the Unlocking Capital on Main Street Program, Main Street programs are strengthening their local community investment ecosystems. Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and guided by the Center for Community Investment (CCI), each community is receiving funds designed to move promising ideas closer to development and long-term investment.

April 1, 2026

Group of people holding check smile for photo — Representatives from On Broadway, Inc., Green Bay, Wisconsin, accept a check from a sponsor to fund their Public Market. Unlocking Capital funds will also support the Public Market, through the creation of a food co-op retail center inside the 45,000-square-foot market, helping incubate future Main Street retailers emerging from the district. © Luke Hallowell

Announcements

Last Chance: Register for 2026 Main Street Now Conference

Online registration for the Main Street Now 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 13-15, closes in just a few days! Act now to score savings and get a jumpstart on planning for the Main Street movement's biggest network-building and professional development opportunity of the year. The last day to register is April 6: Secure your seat today!

April 1, 2026

Large sculpture consisting of three metal bands rising from the ground (left) and curving around a replica of a "Tulsa Route 66" sign (center). The sculpture is located in an open grassy area and is illuminated by ground lights. — Route 66 Rising Sculpture. Courtesy of Tyler Layne Photography

Announcements

Main Spotlight: How Retail Accelerators Provide Vital Community Support for Emerging Entrepreneurs

Supported by The Hartford Small Business Accelerator Grant Program, the shop owners at The Shoppes at Grandon Plaza in Sterling, Illinois, prove that community isn't just a benefit of retail accelerators; it also helps them learn, grow, and move to the next level.

March 31, 2026

Group of six women smiling in front of small shops. — The Shoppes at Grandon Plaza © Sterling Main Street

Insights

New in The Academy: Courses to Support Your Growth

We've just added three new, self-guided Local Main Street Leader courses designed to nurture your abilities for deeper impact. Through expert insights and hands-on lessons, these courses provide you with essential tools to refine your approach, scale your successes, and navigate the increasing complexity of your role. Affordably priced and available on-demand, these courses fit any budget or schedule. Explore the Growing courses today!

March 30, 2026

People of all ages visit a small business's sidewalk display. — Photo by Visit Columbia TN

Announcements

People dancing in the street in Florence, South Carolina. — Florence, South Carolina. Photo by True Light Photography.

“Our downtown would not be the thriving ecosystem it is today without our community’s steadfast alignment with the Main Street Approach.”

- Hannah Davis, Main Street Program Director, Florence, S.C.

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