Atlanta, Georgia © Main Street America
Main Street America (MSA) leads an inclusive, impact-driven movement dedicated to reenergizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through place-based economic development and community preservation. 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.
Main Street America was founded in 1980 as the National Main Street Center®, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Over the past 40 years the MSA network has helped to generate over $107.62 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 335,675 buildings, create 782,059 new jobs, and start 175,323 new businesses in over 2,000 communities.
Main Street America has been helping reenergize and strengthen communities since 1977.
Main Street America’s new Strategic Plan will guide our work for the next 5 – 10 years, building on our legacy and core purpose.
Our team is comprised of highly talented and passionate individuals dedicated to place-based economic development.
Explore opportunities to join our team of highly skilled and dedicated individuals committed to place-based economic development.
Everyone should have access to an inclusive and resilient Main Street – a place that has a thriving local economy, is distinctive and rich in character, and features welcoming spaces and diverse businesses for residents and visitors alike. Main Street America models and champions this vision through our actions and programs. Learn more about our vision and steps we are taking to shape an inclusive future.
Main Street America is pleased to announce that 1,171 programs across the country have achieved designation as Main Street America programs in recognition of their commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
Learn how Thomasville, Georgia, activates its storefronts each spring with a rose-themed window decorating contest.
The Backing Small Businesses grant program, supported by American Express, is now accepting applications for a round of Disaster Recovery grants. Grant funds will support locally significant and economically vulnerable small businesses that have been impacted by the California Wildfires and other FEMA-declared disasters on or after January 1, 2024. Businesses can apply for one of 100 available $10,000 grants to support their recovery efforts.
The results of our Spring 2025 Small Business Profiles Survey show increasing economic anxieties among Main Street business owners across the country.
Eight communities have been selected to receive the 2025 Small Business Accelerator grants, in partnership with The Hartford.
The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act would open opportunities for Main Streets to access funding to rehabilitate historic buildings.
Data from the past year and updates on our building inventory tool, the Building Opportunities on Main Street Tracker
Join us in celebrating the 11 Main Street leaders who have most recently earned this prestigious credential and the Main Street movement's highest level of professional development achievement in grassroots revitalization efforts.
Meet the recipients of the 2025 GM on Main Street grants!
Join host Matt Wagner for his conversation on the current economic challenges facing small businesses and the strategies and innovative pivots that can help better navigate these turbulent headwinds.
Key takeaways from six sessions at the 2025 Main Street Now Conference.
Erin Barnes explores the ways that Main Street programs are built to last, and how we can recognize this durability in the places we love and the organizations we steward.
Middlesboro, Kentucky © Danny Vaughn
Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
Learn More
