Main Street America

Building Stronger Communities Together

A large group of adults and children gather on a stage for a ribbon cutting event celebrating the completion of a nautical-themed mosaic mural that is visible behind them. — Oceanside, California © Main Street Oceanside

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 Institute 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

Feb

20

2025

Register: Intro to Grant Writing — How to Define the Problem

Tips to strengthen your grant proposals and make your organization’s mission stand out. Part three of our four-part Intro to Grant Writing webinar series, presented in partnership with Grant Ready Kentucky.
Feb

27

2025

Register: Intro to Grant Writing — Turning Ideas into Actionable Outcomes

Discover how to demonstrate measurable impact and turn your project’s vision into reality. Part four of our four-part Intro to Grant Writing webinar series, presented in partnership with Grant Ready Kentucky.
Mar

06

2025

Register: How to Use the Main Street Disaster and Resiliency Toolkit

Join Main Street America for a webinar exploring the Main Street Disaster and Resiliency Toolkit.

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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 lounge in chairs, sit at bistro tables, and stroll through a large plaza dotted with trees and surrounded by historic brick buildings. — Visitors enjoy the newly renovated Cotton Avenue Plaza, where a Confederate monument stood before being relocated to Rose Hill Cemetery. © DSTO Moore

Macon, Georgia

2024 Great American Main Street Award Winner

A woman smiles while watering plants in a vintage bathtub-turned-planter placed outside her store. — Family-owned and operated businesses like Fountain Alley work daily to create the perfect experience for their customers. © Austin Sims

Madison, Indiana

2024 Great American Main Street Award Winner

Aerial view of the Monroeville Courthouse Square. — Monroeville, Alabama © Pierce Drones

Monroeville, Alabama

2024 Great American Main Street Award Winner

People shopping at an indoor farmers market. — Danville, Virginia © Laura Ashworth

Danville, Virginia

2023 Great American Main Street Award Winner

Two historic brick buildings flank the entrance to an outdoor plaza with a square, metal and stained glass gateway. — The James Allen Plaza — constructed by volunteers, city staff, and local artists — is a welcoming space for celebrations, community events, and relaxation. © True Light Photography

Florence, South Carolina

2023 Great American Main Street Award Winner

Four people stand shoulder to shoulder in front of a large red "M" structure. Behind them, a plaza is filled with visitors and white pop-up canopy tents staffed by vendors participating in a spring bazaar event. — Metuchen Downtown Alliance board members at the annual Spring Bazaar. © Lauren Beischer

Metuchen, New Jersey

2023 Great American Main Street Award 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

Black History Month Reading List

We gathered seven blogs and resources that uplift Black voices, dive into complicated histories, and provide strategies for deeper and more diverse community engagement.

February 14, 2025

A woman dances while children play drums at a musical celebration — February is Black History Month! © Fotowerks

Storytelling

Main Street Disaster Resilience: Planning for the Next Disaster in Three Steps

Three steps you can take to launch the planning process and start preparing your community for natural disasters.

February 13, 2025

A man participates in a community engagement session by placing post it notes on poster boards — Disaster planning in Denham Springs, Louisiana. © City of Denham Springs

How-to

12 Tips for Navigating Tariffs: A Guide for Main Street Businesses

Tips to help small business owners understand potential tariffs and ways to mitigate their impacts.

February 12, 2025

Two women process inventory and packages for a small business — Preparing for potential tariffs can help reduce the impact they have on your small business. © demaerre

Insights

Main Spotlight: Connect, Learn & Celebrate – Preview the 2025 Main Street Now Conference Schedule

Rooted in foundational topics and inspired by feedback from the Main Street network, this year’s schedule is bursting with opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate. Check it out!

February 11, 2025

People attending a large session take notes while listening to a presenter (out of frame). — © Tosha Gaines Photography

Events and Opportunities

Community Spotlight: GM on Main Street Grant Recipient Columbia, Tennessee

Thanks to the GM on Main Street grant, Columbia, Tenn. embarked on an ambitious downtown revitalization project to add curb extensions, greenspace, and two informational kiosks to downtown Columbia.

February 6, 2025

Three people gather around an informational kiosk in a downtown area — **After**

Storytelling

Science on Main: Holiday Science with Main Street Malvern

Learn how Malvern brought the community together, and taught them something new, with their Holiday Wonders: In Science event.

February 6, 2025

Photo 1: a light up snowman in front of a library
Photo 2: people add their thoughts to an interactive science poster
Photo 3: Volunteers pose at an informational desk — Celebrating snow with Main Street Malvern. © Main Street Malvern

Storytelling

Main Spotlight: Reclaiming East Oakland

Black Cultural Zone CEO Carolyn Johnson shares their new neighborhood development initiative, Rise East.

February 4, 2025

Three children skating on roller skates at an outdoor park — Children skate at the UMOJA Outdoor Skate Park in East Oakland. © Malcolm Wallace of Malcolm Wallace Images.

Storytelling

Community Spotlight: GM on Main Street Grant Recipient Holly, Michigan

Holly, Mich. received funding from the GM on Main Streett grant for their Beautify Holly Battle Alley Social District and Ganshaw Park projects.

January 30, 2025

Open pedestrian area with tables, chairs, and strung lights — **After**

Storytelling

Don’t Miss Out: Our Biggest Savings for Main Street Now 2025 Ends February 4!

The Early Bird rate for the 2025 Main Street Now Conference expires on Tuesday, February 4. Act now to save up to $310 on registration to our movement's can't-miss event of the year!

January 29, 2025

Bronze statue on a tall pedestal with Independence Hall in the background. — Independence Hall © Sean Pavone/iStock

Events and Opportunities

Small Business Predictions for 2025

In this episode, Matt Wagner breaks down seven key predictions that will impact Main Street businesses and entrepreneurs in 2025.

January 28, 2025

Storytelling

25 Small Business Owners Receive $30,000 Grants through Backing Small Businesses Program

The 25 small businesses receiving enhancement grants represent 25 states across the country. Earlier this year, each of these recipients also received an additional $10,000 as part of a 500-member cohort.

January 28, 2025

Announcement

Main Spotlight: What Can Main Streets and Small Businesses Expect in 2025?

Chief Innovation Officer Matt Wagner, Ph.D., shares his predictions for the trends impacting Main Streets and small businesses in 2025.

January 28, 2025

An elderly couple exploring a beautiful historic downtown — The growing retired population will need accessible housing in safe, walkable communities like Main Streets. © Page Light Studios

Insights

People dancing in the street in Florence, South Carolina.

“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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