Designation Tiers

Accredited Status

Accredited status is our top tier of recognition. Main Street America Accredited™ programs have a proven track record of planning, implementing, and measuring results that align with the Main Street Approach. Accredited programs must meet the set of baseline requirements and demonstrate success in each of the six Accreditation Standards.

How to become Accredited: 

In states or regions that have existing Coordinating Programs, communities work with their Coordinating Program to meet the performance standards above including an annual Community Self-Assessment, an onsite Community Progress visit, and required reporting. Coordinating Programs evaluate, select, and recommend Accredited programs to Main Street America annually. In areas where there is no Coordinating Program, MSA may accredit communities that have retained the necessary training and evaluation services needed to meet Accreditation Standards – contact us to learn more.

Affiliate Status

Main Street America Affiliates™ are programs or organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to the Main Street model and are on the pathway to achieving meaningful economic, social, physical and organizational improvements in their downtown or commercial districts. Main Street America Affiliates do not have to meet the six Community Evaluation Standards or baseline requirements, but they should commit to: 

1. Broadly engaging community stakeholders in the revitalization process; 

2. Working with stakeholders to identify a unified vision for success for community or district and appropriate success indicators; 

3. Developing diversified and sustainable funding sources to support your efforts; 

4. Participating in available training, professional development, and networking opportunities to strengthen leadership capacity and deepen knowledge of the Main Street Approach and community revitalization field; and

5. Maintaining membership with Main Street America.

These programs are eligible to become Accredited when they meet the necessary performance standards. They may also remain Affiliates if they do not have the capacity or are otherwise ineligible for Accredited status. 

How to become an Affiliate: 

In states or regions that have existing Coordinating Programs, communities work with their Coordinating Program to learn and implement the Main Street Approach, build capacity, and meet requirements for Affiliate status which includes an annual Community Self-Assessment. Coordinating Programs select and recommend Affiliates to Main Street America annually. MSA may also independently designate Affiliates in areas where there is no Coordinating Program.

Baseline Requirements

A set of indicators is required as important foundational starting points for a program to qualify for Accreditation. 

The Baseline Requirements are:

• A Board of Directors formed by a representative base of the district stakeholders and community members, dedicated to leading the district’s Main Street program.

• Communities over 5,000 in population must employ a FTE program director. Communities under 5,000 in population must employ a 20-hour minimum per week program director.

• Identified Transformation Strategy to direct the work of the program, based on community input and market understanding.

• Detailed work plans aligned with the selected Transformation Strategy that outline programming across the Main Street Four Points. Work plans include: the project, expected (measurable) outcomes, specific tasks needed to accomplish the project, assignments of those tasks showing volunteer and staff responsibilities, timelines, and budgets.

• A dedicated budget for the district’s revitalization programming and the Main Street program’s operations.

• Demonstrated support from municipality for the Main Street program. This can include leadership participation, funding, in-kind donations, and philosophical support.

• Reinvestment statistics reported as required by Coordinating Program (monthly, quarterly, or annually).

• Be a member in good standing with Main Street America, and appropriately use the MSA logo and Coordinating Program logo on its website and/​or social media.

Local Programs that do not meet these baseline requirements are not eligible for Accreditation from Main Street America, though they may qualify for designation at the Affiliate level.