Three Main Street America Staff members standing in front of a mural in Marion, Iowa.

Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams

About

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.

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Two community members in Emporia Kansas pose with a sign saying "I'm a Main Streeter"

Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street

Our Network

Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.

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Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America

Resources

Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!

Overview Knowledge Hub Field Services Government Relations Main Street Now Conference Main Street America Institute Small Business Support Allied Member Services The Point Members Area
People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

The Latest

Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.

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Woman and girl at a festival booth in Kendall Whittier, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street

Get Involved

Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

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Three Main Street America Staff members standing in front of a mural in Marion, Iowa.

Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams

About

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.

Overview Who We Are How We Work Partner Collaborations Our Supporters Our Team Job Opportunities Contact Us
Two community members in Emporia Kansas pose with a sign saying "I'm a Main Streeter"

Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street

Our Network

Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.

Overview Coordinating Programs Main Street Communities Collective Impact Awards & Recognition Community Evaluation Framework Join the Movement
Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America

Resources

Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!

Overview Knowledge Hub Field Services Government Relations Main Street Now Conference Main Street America Institute Small Business Support Allied Member Services The Point Members Area
People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

The Latest

Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.

Overview News & Stories Events & Opportunities Subscribe
Woman and girl at a festival booth in Kendall Whittier, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street

Get Involved

Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

Overview Join Us Renew Your Membership Donate Partner With Us Job Opportunities

Downloads

Building a Foundation

Creating streets for people requires an understanding of the various components that directly and indirectly relate to commercial district transportation planning and design. Equipped with this knowledge, Main Street leaders can better advocate for design elements, programming strategies, and policies that support people-first streets and improve their ability to communicate with local community partners and transportation officials. 

Chapter 2 delves into the nuts and bolts of various elements that directly impact the quality of Main Street transportation networks in the areas of streetscape and pedestrian design, managing traffic, and parking, and concludes with a section on potential funding sources. Along with a robust community process, these elements can be adapted and used to inspire your projects, to share as examples with fellow stakeholders, and to create the foundation for streets that positively impact people, place, and the economy.

Case Studies

Potential Funding Sources

Public Funding:

  • Bond issues ask voters to approve or disapprove proposed municipal spending, which could be used to fund streetscape and infrastructure projects.
  • General revenue funds are unassigned municipal dollars that could be used to fund streetscape and infrastructure projects.
  • Special taxing districts, such as Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), levy a tax on the property owners who most directly benefit, which is then used to fund various projects in the district boundaries, including streetscape and infrastructure. In some states, BIDs can use some of their revenue to secure bonds.
  • Tax-increment financing (TIF) allocates future increases in tax revenue to pay for improvements.
  • Special sales or food and lodging taxes are additional taxes on specific goods, food, or lodging that are intended to capture tourist and visitor dollars to be used for community projects.
  • State-funded loans and grants from state agencies like the Department of Commerce, the Department of Economic Development, or the Department of Transportation, are often put toward streetscape and infrastructure projects.
  • Federal grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Highway Administration, etc. can also be applied to local streetscape and infrastructure projects.

Private Funding:

  • Grants from national, state, and local foundations can fund staff time, iterative interventions, or provide match for local, state, and federal government funds.
  • Donations for the purchase of items such as pavers, benches, or plantings cover the costs of specific budget line items.
  • Crowdfunding describes generally smaller donations from community members, usually gathered via online platform like ioby [link to ioby​.org] or Patronicity [link to patron​ic​i​ty​.com].
  • In-kind donations like paint, lumber, or time serve as in-kind funding, meaning they support the work through non-financial means.

Funding Resources: