Community Spotlight: Final Round of Made on Main Street Events

Community Spotlight: GM on Main Street Grant Recipient Columbia, Tennessee

Thanks to the GM on Main Street grant, Columbia, Tenn. embarked on an ambitious downtown revitalization project to add curb extensions, greenspace, and two informational kiosks to downtown Columbia.

Community Spotlight: GM on Main Street Grant Recipient Holly, Michigan

Holly, Mich. received funding from the GM on Main Streett grant for their Beautify Holly Battle Alley Social District and Ganshaw Park projects.

Main Spotlight: What Can Main Streets and Small Businesses Expect in 2025?

Chief Innovation Officer Matt Wagner, Ph.D., shares his predictions for the trends impacting Main Streets and small businesses in 2025.

Main Spotlight: Connecting Communities in Philadelphia

In preparation for the 2025 Main Street Now Conference, Pennsylvania Coordinator Julie Fitzpatrick explores active transportation and public art in Philadelphia.

How Free Music Experiences Strengthen America’s Main Streets

Music has a unifying power to bring people of all generations, backgrounds, and cultures together for creative expression. Let’s explore how accessible, family-friendly music experiences can strengthen Main Streets across America to build stronger communities, one concert at a time!

$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.

Main Spotlight: How to Survive and Thrive During Construction

Construction projects can put a lot of stress on your downtown. From preparation to completion, Brooke Prouty at Iowa Economic Development Authority shares best practices to help your Main Street thrive during construction.

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.

From Vacant Lots to Vibrant Venues: The Impact of Levitt AMP Concerts on Main Streets

At the heart of thriving Main Streets are vibrant public spaces that unite people of all ages and backgrounds and enrich community life. And what better way to activate public spaces than through the power of free, live music? 

Advocacy Spotlight: Improving Connectivity in Main Streets through Infrastructure Investments

Learn how Main Streets can tap into federal resources to improve transportation infrastructure, take down barriers, and improve access to key services.

Main Spotlight: Announcing the Main Street Disaster and Resilience Toolkit

Main Street America is proud to announce the release of a new resource to help Main Streets and commercial district organizations better prepare for and respond to more frequent and severe disasters.

Community Spotlight: Fields Corner Main Street Uses Art to Increase Community Safety

This Boston Main Street installed an innovative street mural to highlight crosswalks and improve pedestrian safety.

Main Spotlight: Main Streets are for the Dogs!

These seven Main Streets have implemented innovative, exciting, and fun programs to help welcome dogs to their downtowns.

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.

Apply for the USDOT RAISE Grant to Improve Your District’s Transportation Infrastructure

The RAISE program funds surface transportation projects with local and regional impact by enhancing safety, mobility, sustainability, and economic growth.

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.

Apply for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program Grant

Apply for federal funding to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation infrastructure that creates barriers to community connectivity.

Staff Spotlight: Using the Arts to Foster Community Change

Art is a powerful tool for community change. Learn how the arts can improve community engagement, boost economic development, and connect with the Main Street Approach.

Advocacy Spotlight: Transportation is a Key Component of Downtown Revitalization

Streets play an important role in our downtown districts. Learn more about Main Street America's recent work with the Department of Transportation to promote vibrant and sustainable downtown roadways.

Apply for the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program to Support Safety in Your Downtown

Learn how the Safe Streets and Roads for All program is providing grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

Main Spotlight: Fostering Connection in BHAM by Creating Third Spaces in Downtown Birmingham and Woodlawn 

REV Birmingham and Woodlawn United share how they work to reenergize spaces and places in Birmingham, Alabama, through civic infrastructure projects in the city’s historic commercial corridors.

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.

Community Spotlight: Valentines Murals in Little Five Points

Learn how the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta uses this unique mural program to celebrate Valentine's Day and raise important funding for their work.

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.

Community Spotlight: Sharing Umbrellas with Vancouver Downtown Association

This Washington Main Street is encouraging people to brave the rainy weather with their free umbrella share program.

Main Spotlight: Understanding the Parking Debate

Parking is a challenging problem for many Main Streets. We explored the arguments for and against free parking, and a method for conducting an inventory of parking in your downtown.

Main Spotlight: A Ferry Ride to Main Street in Bainbridge Island, Washington

Learn how Bainbridge Island Downtown Association leverages their connection to the ferry to create a walkable and vibrant downtown.

Community Spotlight: #LIGHTBIKETRAIL in Downtown Billings, Montana

An innovative artistic project brings new life to the alleyways in Billings, Montana.

Main Spotlight: A Walk Down Main Street for National Pedestrian Safety Month

In big cities and small towns, people face increasing danger when navigating communities on foot. As advocates for connected and walkable downtowns, Main Streets have a crucial role to play in increasing pedestrian safety.

Thriving Communities Program FY23 Program: Hands-on capacity building support for infrastructure projects

Learn how you can participate in the Thriving Communities program as a capacity builder or how you can receive support from the program.

Main Spotlight: #ParksMonthOnMain

To celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month, we explored three innovative and interesting parks-based projects and collaborations in Main Street communities.

Main Spotlight: How to Bring E‑Scooters to Your Downtown

Waterloo, Iowa, shares advice and lessons learned from their e-scooter program.

Main Spotlight: Beat the Heat This Summer Using Downtown Design

Learn how you can harness design principles and strategies to create a cooler, more welcoming downtown.

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: Welcome to Leeds!

The City of Leeds, AL welcomed a new downtown mural over the holidays that has brought a sense of excitement and anticipation for the continuing efforts to focus on the Leeds downtown district.

Community Spotlight: How an Iowa Community Turned Grain Bins into Art

What is more Iowan than turning grain bins into public art? Learn how Main Street Coon Rapids created these beautiful murals to celebrate their downtown.

Allied Member Spotlight: Creating Pollinator Gardens in your Community

Pollinator gardens are fantastic ways to increase green space, promote sustainability, and educate your community on the local environment.

Community Spotlight: Main Street Programs Receive AARP Community Challenge Grants

The AARP Community Challenge program gives out quick-action grants to activate public spaces. Meet some of the Main Streets awarded grants through the program this year.

Allied Member Spotlight: Streateries & Parklets

Learn how these outdoor microspaces can contribute to more vibrancy in our public spaces.

Main Spotlight: The Importance of Place

Chairman Emeritus Ed McMahon explores the power of place in creating spaces people love.

Pandemic Recovery Efforts in Georgia: Progress on the Georgia Main Street Innovation Grant Program

To support Georgia Main Streets throughout the recovery process and position them for long-term sustainability, Main Street America launched the Georgia Main Street Innovation Grant Program, made possible through generous support from The Williams Family Foundation of Georgia.

Main Spotlight: Intentional Placemaking and Open Streets Initiatives — How to Boost a Community During Uncertain Times

Intentional placemaking has had many unexpected benefits for this Alabama town.

Community Spotlight: Main Streets Love Farmers Markets

We heard from organizations across the nation about the incredible impact their markets have had on community engagement, entrepreneur and small business support, and keeping their district vibrant.

National Farmers Market Week Celebrates Communities Coming Together and Supports Farmers Markets Nationwide

Community Spotlight: Market Street Arts and Entertainment District in Mount Airy, NC

Mount Airy Downtown, Inc., celebrated the return of their Market Street Arts and Entertainment District (MSA & ED) last weekend, as part of their pandemic recovery efforts.

Main Spotlight: Windows of Opportunity — The Transformation of Empty Storefronts on Main Street

A vacant storefront is the perfect stage to creatively promote the available space or to showcase other businesses and events in the area.

Main Spotlight: Using StoryWalks to Bring Reading and Fun Downtown

Interested in creating a StoryWalk in your downtown commercial district? Read on to learn more about installing a successful story walking trail.

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: Celebrating the Blues in Ripley, MS

Dubbed the Blues Alley, the Ripley Main Street program plans to install murals of local pioneering Black blues artists, cutout guitars painted by local art students, and blues lyrics painted on the walls.

Branded Wayfinding for Cities, Districts and Regions

Wayfinding guides people to places they seek but it also brings awareness to places they may have otherwise missed.

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.

Creating Engaging Walking Tours

Creating a historic or art walking tour is much more than simply a collection of pictures and descriptions.

Community Spotlight: Made on Main Street in Prosser, Washington

Over 300 attendees enjoyed a family-friendly block party that celebrated the community and showcased Prosser's upcoming streetscape improvement project.

Community Spotlight: Cambridge, Maryland

Cambridge was the first Main Street community in Maryland to install public chargers.

Community Spotlight: Newton, North Carolina

The Downtown Newton Development Association (North Carolina) partnered with the City of Newton on a temporary tactical urbanism project to demonstrate how their permanent streetscape improvements will benefit downtown.

Made on Main Street: Painesville, OH

Over 500 people braved the misty rain this past weekend to come and celebrate Painesville and its Made on Main Street community transformation project.

Wilson Artsy Alleys: Creatively Connecting the Community

Wilson Artsy Alleys is an initiative of the Wilson Downtown Development Corporation which takes the arts to new locations in forgotten places.

Inspiring a Community and State to Build a Better Block

In October 2017, Main Street Ottumwa collaborated with local partners, Main Street Iowa, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Better Block Foundation to stop planning, talking, and wishing, and start doing.

Creative Discovery on the Maker Trail in Enid, Oklahoma

Kelly Tompkins of Main Street Enid shares more about the Maker Trail project and how it inspired creativity and helped people discover downtown.

Transforming a Neglected Parking Lot in Metuchen, New Jersey

The Metuchen Downtown Alliance created a cool, family-friendly public gathering space in “the worst looking spot in town” with the help of just $2,500 in Edward Jones Placemaking on Main Challenge matching grant funds,

Community Spotlight: Laramie, Wyoming’s downtown walls start conversation, grow food

A collaborative effort launched between Laramie Main Street Alliance (LMSA) and vertical farming company, Plenty, looked to blank downtown walls as a canvas for growing food, creating conversation, and activating overlooked spaces.

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.

Community Spotlight: Main Street Paris, Arkansas

Beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower fountain through Main Street Paris's new Love Lock Fence.

Artful Impact: Wyoming’s Street Art Murals

Kasey Drummond, Glenrock Main Street Director, explains how they brought the acclaimed graffiti artist ARCY to their Main Street and explores the work he produced in three additional Wyoming communities on his summer tour.

Community Spotlight: Newkirk Main Street

Karen Dye, Newkirk Main Street's program manager, was inspired to “make downtown more fun and festive” with painted water meter covers after learning about the practice at a recent Main Street Now conference.

Rethink Storefront Accessibility to Rethink Community Viability

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

Mind the Gap

In contrast, the Main Street Program in Laramie, Wyoming, is thriving, having successfully cultivated millions of dollars to help fill these vacant, blighted spaces with permanent structures.

Putting Music on Your Main Street

In this article we’ll explore the process of planning, funding, installing, operating, and enjoying music on your Main Street.

Partnering for Good Design

In 2016, the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center partnered with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Department of Interior Architecture (UNCG) to provide design assistance to Main Street communities.

Cultivating a Sense of Place

Placemaking is a strategy that Six Corners Association has enthusiastically applied to our community development efforts because of its seamless integration with the Main Street Approach.

Re-Ride Me Cheyenne: Implementing a Free Bike Share Program

How one Wyoming Main Street implemented a free bike share program.

Farmers Market Impact

In 2015, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) partnered with the University of Wisconsin–Madison to engage Wisconsin Main Street organizations and farmers markets in the Metrics and Indicators for Impact – Farmers Markets (MIFI-FM) toolkit.

We Are Milford Mural

The local Main Street organization, Downtown Milford Inc., is trying to address these shifting demographics by creating a more inclusive sense of community.

Creative Placemaking to Transform a Park in Milwaukee

This is the story of how a National Endowment for the Arts gathering in DC inspired the leaders of a small town in Appalachia to connect with those in Milwaukee to transform a neglected park.

Small Box – A Creative Retail Project

Main Street communities across the country are no stranger to seeking creative strategies to solve their most nagging issues – vacant buildings, marketing downtown, bolstering retail to name a few.

Enhancing the Corridors to Your Downtown

This article is the second in a series on corridors and the important role they play in Main Street revitalization. The previous article focused on the historic origins of corridors, corridor types, and functions that they serve in our communities.

Measuring the Economic Impact of Storefront Improvements

Façade appearance is a critical aspect of the overall aesthetic appeal and unique character of downtown.

Introduction to Corridor Enhancements

While the Main Street program may not take the lead in corridor enhancements, it can be a vital partner and advocate for improvements in overall community appearance.

A New Era of Street Pole Banners

Street pole banners preserve the historic character of main streets while fostering community awareness and engagement.

One for the Books

With strong community support, the Library Foundation was able to raise over $1.2 million dollars in private donations.

Sign Design Guidelines

A lot of signs are necessary to make a downtown work well, but not every community knows what a good sign system looks like, or how instrumental it can be to the creation of a successful downtown.

The Atlanta Streetcar and Revitalization of Sweet Auburn’s ​“Main Street”

A key goal of the Atlanta Streetcar is to attract investment to and revitalize the neighborhoods along the streetcar alignment.