Black History Month Reading List

Main Spotlight: Reclaiming East Oakland

Black Cultural Zone CEO Carolyn Johnson shares their new neighborhood development initiative, Rise East.

Main Spotlight: Moving Forward While Recognizing the Past

Diana Schwartz at River District Association shares the civil rights history of Danville, Virginia, and the ways that the community recognizes the past while creating a more inclusive future.

$1.8 Million Awarded in Sub-Grants Through USDOT Thriving Communities Program

Main Street America is pleased to announce the launch of a $1.8 million sub-grant program as part of our partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Thriving Communities Program.

Washing the Sidewalks as Community Care in Delaware, Ohio

Erin Barnes spoke to Frances Jo Hamilton at Heritage Ohio about the importance of stepping up for our communities.

Main Spotlight: An Equitable Approach to Transformation Strategy Implementation

It is important to make sure that the growth of your community does not result in displacement or marginalization. Putting equity at the core of your transformation strategy helps you work towards measures of success that benefit everyone.

Main Spotlight: Breaking Barriers to Acquiring Commercial Properties

Creating real change in business ownership starts with local communities leading the way, backed by strong partnerships and collaborations.

Main Spotlight: Downtown Lansing Steps Into Tough Conversations About How to Make Public Spaces for Everyone

MSA President and CEO Erin Barnes explores how a holiday market in a public park brought a new focus on growing humanitarian needs in downtown city centers.

Main Spotlight: Building Partnerships for Main Street Success

Learn how Main Street America's work with the DOT's Thriving Communities Program is supporting transformative efforts with community partners like the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe.

Main Spotlight: Building Community with Pikeville Pride

Learn how Pikeville Pride partners with Pikeville Main Street to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community in their rural Kentucky town.

Celebrating Jewish American Heritage on Main Streets

May is Jewish American Heritage Month! We collected ideas and resources to help you explore Jewish American history on your community and work toward a more inclusive Main Street.

Main Spotlight: Stories of Hawaiian Heritage in Vancouver, Washington

At Fort Vancouver in Vancouver, Washington, Native Hawaiians played a critical role in the success of the Hudson Bay Company. Today, Vancouver’s Hawaiian history and heritage plays a crucial role in efforts to reenergize the city’s historic downtown.

Main Spotlight: Restoration and Resurgence in the Historic 4^th Avenue Black Business District

Urban Impact Inc., harnesses strategic investments and collaborative efforts to foster a vibrant and sustainable future, from visionary adaptive reuse ventures to transformative development grants for small businesses and property owners in Birmingham, Alabama's historic 4th Avenue Black Business District.

Main Street America Partners Secure Allocation of GGRF Funding

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $20B in federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) awards distributed to eight national non-profit consortiums. Main Street America looks forward to partnership and engagement with awardees and local programs to identify projects and expand impact throughout our network.

Staff Spotlight: Reflecting on Equity for Womens History Month

Main Street America Program Officer encourages communities to advance equity for women to grow a more inclusive Movement.

Main Spotlight: An Accessibility-First Approach in Downtown Ruston

Learn how this Louisiana town has used an accessibility-first approach to build a welcoming and inclusive community.

Program Spotlight: Building a Community Support Network for Rural Entrepreneurs

Tasha Sams, Manager of Education Programs, shares highlights of phase one of the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (E3) in Rural Main Streets Program and the biggest takeaways from the workshop experiences.

Watch: How Delta Dirt Distillery is Adding Spirit to Main Street Helena, Arkansas

In this video, learn more about the Williams’ family story, how the business is helping to revive downtown Helena, and the impact they’re having on a national level.

Main Spotlight: Exploring Birmingham’s Commitment to Equity and Inclusivity

Learn how Main Street Now 2024 host city Birmingham, Alabama, is deepening their commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Main Street Business Insights Podcast: Derrick Braziel Talks Isolation, Community-Building

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Derrick Braziel, owner of Pata Roja Taqueria and co-founder of MORTAR, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Main Spotlight: Advancing Equity with Micromobility

Learn how micromobility can increase access, equity, and inclusion in your Main Street with examples from local programs across the network.

Main Spotlight: Building Upon a Civil Rights Legacy in Albany, Georgia

Learn how Albany, Georgia, recognizes their civil rights legacy and supports the African American community today.

Community Spotlight: Dia de los Muertos with Main Street Gardnerville

Celebrate this traditional Mexican holiday with Gardnerville, Nevada.

Program Spotlight: The 2023 Appalachian Big Ideas Festival in Hazard, Kentucky

Tasha Sams shared their experiences at this unique Appalachian cultural festival.

Community Spotlight: Los Festivales y Mercados with Kendall Whittier Main Street

Learn how this community in Oklahoma celebrated Dia de la Independencia with a big festival.

Main Spotlight: A Main Street on the Rio Grande

Learn how Rio Grande City is building a welcoming and inclusive city for both Mexicans and Americans.

Community Spotlight: Allapattah Collaborative CDC

Learn how the Little Santo Domingo neighborhood of Miami is working with the Truist Foundation to strengthen pathways to small business ownership.

Main Spotlight: Fighting Hunger at the Roslindale Village Farmers Market

Learn how this Massachusetts community uses their farmer's market to increase access to fresh food.

Juneteenth Mobility Stroll and Roll in Dearborn, Michigan

Every year, H2BE holds their Juneteenth Mobility Stroll and Roll in Dearborn, MI, which celebrates Black Americans and improves local connections. Learn more about the event and why Juneteenth is important to this community.

Main Spotlight: How to Build a Youth Board

Do you want to support the next generation of Main Street leadership! Start a youth board! Learn how Historic Downtown Clinton set theirs up and how your organization can benefit from one.

Main Spotlight: Beyond Pride — Creating an Inclusive Main Street Year-Round

The Main Street Movement is a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community. We spoke to Main Street leaders about how they support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride and beyond.

Main Spotlight: Connecting with Jewish Communities on Main Street

Steps you can take to engage your local Jewish community and make your Main Street feel welcoming for individual Jewish locals or visitors.

Main Spotlight: Celebrating and Preserving a Culture of Possibility in Allapattah, Miami

On May 9, the National Trust for Historic Preservation released its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2023 which included a cultural district located within a designated Main Street America community.

Community Spotlight: Cinco de Mayo Traditions Flourish in Mexicantown, Southwest Detroit

The annual Cinco de Mayo Parade and Fiesta in the Mexicantown Main Street district offers a great example of collaborative partnerships that honor the community’s cultural heritage and support local businesses through events.

Main Spotlight: A New American Girl for a Great American Main Street

Meet Kavi, the first Indian American Girl of the Year doll and a (fictional) resident of 2023 Great American Main Street Award winner Metuchen, New Jersey!

Main Street America Celebrates National Community Development Week

Community Development Block Grants are powerful tools for Main Street programs. Learn more about how CDBG's can be applied to our work and how you can advocate for the program

USDOT Awards Main Street America $5.9 Million to Support Equitable Rural and Tribal Commercial District Development

Main Street America was awarded $5.9 million to support 20 communities in the Main Streets Community of Practice through the Department of Transportation's Thriving Communities Program over the next two years.

Community Spotlight: The Women of Chinatown

We spoke to Debbie Ho, Executive Director at Chinatown Main Street, to learn about the history of women in Boston Chinatown.

25 New Towns Selected to Receive T‑Mobile Hometown Grants for Local Initiatives

Meet the newest recipients of this grant program to build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities

Main Spotlight: The Black Cowboy-Archeologist of Folsom, New Mexico

Learn the unique history of Folsom, New Mexico, and how they are working with New Mexico MainStreet today.

Main Spotlight: A Community of Support — Protecting Black History in Dublin, Georgia

Learn how this community is honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and telling the stories of Black leaders in their community.

Main Spotlight: Closing the Wealth Gap in Boston — A Playbook for Investing in Economic Equity

Learn about the City of Boston’s efforts to invest in economic equity.

Building Community and Bridging Cultural Divides Through Pow Wow Traditions in Sheridan, Wyoming

Downtown Sheridan Association partners with the Crow Tribe to host the annual First People’s Pow Wow event during the WYO Rodeo Week.

Community Spotlight: Backing Women Business Owners on Main Streets

We spoke to three women who were awarded Inclusive Backing grants to learn more about their passions, their businesses, and their advice for other women.

Main Spotlight: Examining the Thumbprints

Storytelling is a critical part of the placemaking work that we do in Main Street districts. But are we sharing every story equally?

Main Spotlight: Women Leading Change on Main Street in Franklin, Michigan

Main Street Franklin is leading the way in showing how women business owners can be a powerful force for change in their communities.

Main Spotlight: Para Nuestra Comunidad, For Our Community

Anette Landeros, President and CEO of Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, shares the importance of supporting Hispanic business owners and communities.

Community Spotlight: Old Algiers Main Street Pilots Workforce Training Project

#EquityRising, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation's new job training program, seeks to combat rising cost of living by helping residents train for careers that will allow them to stay in their neighborhood.

Main Spotlight: Backing Black Businesses on Main Streets

We spoke to three Black business owners who were awarded Backing Small Businesses grants from Main Street America and American Express to better understand their challenges, successes, and the kinds of support that have helped them the most.

Community Spotlight: Main Street Celebrates Pride Month

June is Pride Month. Learn how Erie, PA, Emporia, KS, Frederick, MD, Macon, GA, and Billings, MT, celebrated the LGBTQ+ community.

Main Spotlight: Community Preservation in the Modern South

Stockbridge Main Street has made significant strides in exploring and sharing the story of Martin Luther King, father of civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr.

Juneteenth Celebrations on Main Streets!

Juneteenth is the anniversary of the final emancipation of enslaved people in the US. Here are five examples of examples of community celebrations from Main Streets across the network.

Community Spotlight: Downtown Florence and Francis Marion University

Learn how Downtown Florence has partnered with local Francis Marion University to provide opportunities for both students and local small businesses.

Main Spotlight: Community Preservation in a Historically African-American Georgia Community

Learn about The Bottom, a historic African-American community in Thomasville, Georgia, and efforts to preserve it's history and share it's story.

Main Spotlight: Commemorating Black History on Main Street

Learn how four Main Street communities celebrated Black History Month.

Oklahoma Main Street and Tribal Nations: Fostering Successful Partnerships

Oklahoma is home to the headquarters of nearly 40 federally recognized Native American tribes, and many of their offices, cultural sites, and museums are located close to or within Main Street districts.

Main Spotlight: Revitalization Possible con Comunidad

Kendall Whittier is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in an ever-diversifying Tulsa. Learn how they are making efforts to engage their large Hispanic community.

National Black Business Month Spotlight: The Four Way and L. May Creations

We spoke with two Black entrepreneurs in UrbanMain commercial districts: L. May Creations in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago and The Four Way in south Memphis, Tennessee.

Main Spotlight: Supporting Black-Owned Businesses in Biddeford, Maine

Heart of Biddeford shares the strategies they developed to support Black-owned businesses in their community.

Reflecting on the History, Legacy, and Future of Black Wall Street in Tulsa

This May marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma. We explored the impact and legacy of this tragic event.

Main Streets Celebrate Juneteenth: Our New Federal Holiday

Main Street communities across the nation are celebrating Juneteenth, the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in America and the nation’s newest federal holiday!

Main Spotlight: Creating a Community for Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Fremont, CA

Learn about the various programs and initiatives that Fremont is using to promote inclusive economic development.

Community Spotlight: Celebrating Pride Month 2021 on Main Street

From small business owners to public artists to local leaders, join us this month to amplify the impact of the LGBTQ+ community in your Main Street district.

Community Spotlight: The Women Leading the Way Campaign in Brooksville Main Street

Brooksville Main Street’s Women Leading the Way Campaign celebrated the legacy of the trailblazing women who made history in their community.

Business Spotlight: Black Entrepreneurs Leading By Example in Chicago

For Black History Month, we want to recognize and celebrate the Black business owners and entrepreneurs who have overcome challenges and obstacles in launching and running their own businesses, thanks to resilience, creativity, and hard work.

Supporting Martin Luther King Boulevards in Neighborhood Commercial Districts

In remembrance and in honor of Dr. Marin Luther King Jr., over 900 streets in the United States were named after him. Many are located predominantly in African American communities.

Community Spotlight: Lunar New Year in Downtown SLO

Downtown SLO has kept the magic of their holiday lights installation alive by evolving their winter wonderland into a dual celebration of Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year.

Community Spotlight: Black History Month Initiatives on Main Street

Main Street programs around the Network have created engaging and COVID-safe ways to honor and celebrate the histories and lives of Black Americans in their commercial districts.

Business Spotlight: Women-Owned Businesses on Main Street (Part 3)

Meet some amazing women business owners!

Community Spotlight: Rainbow Flags on Main Street: Attracting LGBTQIA Businesses and Customers

Main Spotlight: New Tool for Understanding Demographics of Main Street Communities

Business Spotlight: Women-Owned Businesses on Main Street (Part 2)

Business Spotlight: Women-Owned Businesses on Main Street (Part 1)

Community Spotlight: Mexicantown in Detroit, Michigan

Main Spotlight: Trading Cultural Displacement for Thriving Commercial Districts

Learn how the Allapattah Collaborative in Miami, Florida, implements a range of initiatives to expand equitable development and ensure current businesses can not only remain in the corridor but also flourish.

Celebrating the Centennial of the 19^th Amendment on Main Street

New Survey Results: How Small Businesses are Managing the Pandemic and Social Unrest

Read the results of our survey aimed at understanding how business owners are managing the recovery from COVID-19 and responding to recent protests and social unrest related to police violence against Black Americans.

Community Spotlight: How Athens, TN, is Managing Race Relations

Main Spotlight: Supporting Spanish-Speaking Businesses in Washington, D.C.

Business Spotlight: Black Entrepreneurs in Downtown Florence

Research Spotlight: Black-Owned Businesses on Main Street and Beyond

Our research team dug into some of the data about the state of Black-owned businesses on Main Street, the structural challenges they face, and how Main Streets can support them. 

Main Spotlight: BIPOC Pop-Up Markets on Alberta Street

A Statewide Movement Improving West Virginia Main Streets

Since 2013, Try This West Virginia has sought to improve health environments in local communities as a collaboration of organizations working together to combat the health challenges facing West Virginians.

Main Spotlight: Learnings from the ESHIP Summit

Supporting new and existing small businesses, and the entrepreneurs who run them, represents a vital aspect of the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood business districts.

Creating Equitable, Inclusive and Transparent Cities: A Year in Review

The Equitable Economic Development Fellowship is a two-year, one million-dollar effort funded by the Surdna Foundation and the Open Society Foundations to help equity, transparency, sustainability and community engagement become driving forces in local economic development efforts.

Community Spotlight: Zuni Pueblo MainStreet

The Zuni Pueblo MainStreet is the nation's first (and so far, only) Native American Main Street community.

MILES: Placemaking Goes Mobile in Downtown Brattleboro

As part of the Edward Jones Placemaking on Main Challenge, Downtown Brattleboro created a pop-up, mobile mini-museum.

Main Street for the Ages

History and architecture play an active role in educating and immersing the next generation of preservationists in Le Mars. From museum visits, scavenger hunts, to "show and tell," involving the youth and senior communities is a priority for this Main Street.

Building Stronger Communities through the Arts

Across the county, communities are embracing the arts as a catalyst for revitalization—of buildings, businesses, and local culture.

Exploring the Convergence of Health, Place, and the Economy

From walkability and transportation connectivity, to access to nature and availability of fresh food, place is inextricably linked to achieving positive health outcomes in rural America.

Rethink Storefront Accessibility to Rethink Community Viability

Appealing to mobility-challenged shoppers yields benefits beyond the store.

Working with Homeless Individuals

Main Street America is committed to helping build inclusive communities. Homelessness is an increasingly important issue facing Main Street communities big and small, urban and rural.

Supporting Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the Heart of Boston’s Main Streets

To understand the role that immigrant business owners play in Boston’s small business ecosystem, you need only to walk through any Boston Main Streets district.

Minimizing the Effects of Gentrification: Part II

New arrivals have made Shaw more diverse.

Minimizing the Effects of Gentrification: Part I

Preserving diverse populations, not just buildings.