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

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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!

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People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

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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

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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

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We have been building transportation through communities, not communities through transportation.”
Dan Burden

Reimagining Streets

Streets are our most fundamental public spaces. They often represent the largest area of public space in a community and provide the overarching framework by which our cities physically expand and develop over time. For streets to become better places, we must design, manage, and program them as places for people first.

Introduced by Project for Public Spaces, the concept of Streets as Places challenges everyone to see streets in their entirety — not just their function in transporting people and goods, but the vital role they play in energizing social and economic life in communities. Streets as Places positions communities as the owners of their streets, with a right and a responsibility to directly impact how their public spaces look, function, and feel.

As Main Street leaders, you can think of Streets as Places as both an organizing concept for why we should prioritize streets in planning, and as a strategy for reimagining neighborhoods. By thinking about the entire history, system, and quality of place that your streets have and contribute to, you can work with your community to find creative solutions for animating social, economic, and civic life.

Diagram of a streetscape. The illustration of a downtown street is labelled with the following categories. 1) the street system can include various streetscape elements, including sidewalks, trees, shade, street furniture, facades, parking, lamposts, transit, planters, banners, trash receptacles, water features, public art, charging stations, outdoor dining, alleyways, pathways, bike lanes, crosswalks, traffic signals, ramps, wayfinding, roundabouts, public space, green space, and more. 2) the street system can accommodate different activities, including moving people, delivering goods, providing services, strolling, gazing, exercising, socializing, playing, shopping, working, civic participation, and more. 3) the street system can accommodate different modes of transportation, including pedestrians, wheelchairs, bikes, cars, trucks, transit, scooters, skateboards, and more.

Base street structure for this graphic was provided by Colorado Downtown Streets, a collaborative publication by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Department of Transportation, and Community Builders. Streetscape image overlay prepared by Aleksandra Platnikova, with support from Alina Bibisheva.

Resources