A Tool for Measuring Impact
Decades of experience implementing the Main Street Approach in communities across the country has demonstrated that building and sustaining a successful downtown or neighborhood commercial district is not a one-time project, but an ongoing process that requires long-term commitment, continued focus, and strategic action. The Main Street America Community Evaluation Framework empowers communities to review their progress, recognize achievements, acknowledge challenges, and identify opportunities to continually move their efforts forward.
Key Elements
The key elements of the Community Evaluation Framework include six Standards and a process consisting of:
- Annual Community Self-Assessment
- Standardized Reporting Practices
- Onsite Community Progress Visits (at least once every two years)
These components provide important tools to celebrate wins and promote the value and impact of Main Street and to help us understand local revitalization needs and the necessary resources for successful revitalization.
The Process
Through the MSA Community Accreditation Process, the following three integrated components come together to provide a complete picture of the progress communities make implementing the Main Street Approach:
- Annual Community Self-Assessment – This component offers communities an opportunity to review and reflect on the progress, impact, and needs the organization is making towards the vision for the district’s revitalization. Local leaders are encouraged to incorporate this tool as part of their planning process.
- Annual Standardized Reporting Practices – This component is intended to help communities track and measure the level of investment the district is experiencing and highlight the level of engagement and investment the community is making in the Main Street program. Beyond just meeting reporting requirements, the information can be a powerful tool to promote the value and impact of their organization’s efforts.
- Onsite Community Assessment or Progress Visit – The accreditation process cannot be complete without the opportunity to connect with the communities, annually if possible or at least every other year (biennially). A progress visit should include meetings with local leaders and stakeholders to build consensus on the program’s strengths and needs, as well as a visual assessment of the district’s conditions and opportunities.
Community Evaluation Standards
Standard 1 — Broad-based Community Commitment to Revitalization
Standard 2 — Inclusive Leadership and Organizational Capacity
Standard 3 — Diversified Funding and Sustainable Program Operations
Standard 4 — Strategy-Driven Programming
Standard 5 — Preservation-Based Economic Development
Standard 6 — Demonstrated Impact and Results
Assessments and Designations
The Main Street America Community Evaluation Framework is used to determine Main Street America Community designation status — a mark of national distinction that represents a Main Street program’s commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating a resilient economy, and improving quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation. Designated programs meet a set of rigorous standards and demonstrate impact across multiple key indicators to earn this status.
Main Street America designation is a powerful advocacy tool, signaling to local stakeholders, as well as city, state, and national funders, that a Main Street program has an established position within a nationwide movement that has a 45-year proven track record of generating impressive economic returns, building local capacity, creating welcoming and inviting communities, and creating lasting impact.
Beyond determining Main Street America designation status, the framework is a tool Main Street leaders can use to evaluate how their program’s efforts align with the new Standards and identify areas for deeper focus and prioritization. It also serves as a basis for local leaders to work with their Coordinating Program on identifying areas for capacity building, program development, and training needs.
Reporting Platform
The Main Street America Accreditation Platform provides a one-stop portal for local Main Street programs to complete self-assessments for designation.
Valley Junction — West Des Moines, Iowa © Historic Valley Junction
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