Board Spotlight: Meet Main Street America’s Three New Board Members
We are excited to welcome Lynda Tran, Tyrone Rachal, and Mary Helmer Wirth to the Main Street America Board of Directors
The Madison Main Street team poses in front of a local business with their GAMSA plaque. © Madison Main Street
Has your Main Street program made significant strides in realizing your community’s vision for its downtown? Do your projects and programs serve as models for comprehensive, preservation-based commercial district revitalization? If this sounds like you, then you could be a candidate for the 2025 Great American Main Street Award!
With just two weeks until applications are due, now is the time to gather images, edit responses, and rewatch the informational webinar. Keep reading for more information or click here to get started!
Eligibility: All Accredited Main Street America programs, with an active Main Street membership and that have not previously won, are eligible to apply.
Application: Candidates must submit a complete application through the online portal and application fee by Friday, July 26, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. A preview of the updated and streamlined application, response rubrics, document upload templates, and more are available on our website. Great American Main Street Award
2025 GAMSA Application Webinar: Learn more about the Great American Main Street Award, the updated and streamlined 2025 application, and key dates. Get tips for completing your application and hear insights from Emily Hopkins, Vice President of External Affairs and Main Street Macon Manager at NewTown Macon, a 2024 GAMSA winning community. Available anytime on-demand; registration required. Watch and get slides here >
Selection Criteria: Semifinalist and winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a jury of Main Street professionals and leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic preservation. Learn more about selection criteria >
Accolades: Semifinalists will be promoted through MSA’s digital channels and will receive media relations materials. Recipients will also receive a short documentary film, a plaque, media relations support, prominent placement on the MSA website for two years, and recognition at a ceremony at the 2025 Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Seize this moment to apply for the Main Street Movement’s greatest honor: submit your application by Friday, July 26, at 11:59 p.m. CDT!
Questions? Email gamsa@mainstreet.org.
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Since starting as Executive Director, Todd has helped the organization achieve Virginia Main Street Designation Status and national Accreditation.
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Letter from past MSA President, Patrice Frey
The Lowdown in Downtown LaBelle
Fritz the dog has made his way into the hearts of the residents of LaBelle, Florida, and helped our Main Street Community find a way to make what we do more noticeable.
Strategic Planning Through Transformation Strategies – Saline, Michigan
Back in October 2015, we introduced the three key components of the refreshed Main Street Approach: inputs, outputs and Community Transformation Strategies.
Revitalization and Main Street Transformation
For a lucky few downtowns, greatness may happen effortlessly with a strong sense of place that seems to develop organically and simply sustain itself. For most places, success doesn’t happen by chance.
Revisit Your Community’s Unique Assets: Connecting Asset-Based Economic Development to Community Transformation Strategies
This need for change results from the heavy emphasis on three components of the refreshed Main Street Approach.
The 2016 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The 2016 winners are a diverse group in geography and character, but together demonstrate the broad applicability of the Main Street Approach:
Main Street Nation Radio
The first official show under the Main Street Nation banner aired in June 2015 on WJR-760 AM Detroit.
The Path To The Future
The economic value of historic preservation on Main Street.
Refresh Demonstration Project Sites: Learning Labs for the Updated Main Street Approach
A series of demonstration projects providing the opportunity to test new strategies on the ground, learn from practitioners, and refine the approach.
Why Business Retention and Expansion Plans are Important for Downtowns
A business retention and expansion plan, properly implemented, not only helps keep businesses open but possibly even helps them expand.
Wisconsin Main Street: 27 Years of People, Places and Progress
While there have been over $1.2 billion in public and private investment in Wisconsin Main Street communities over the past 27 years, what really makes it special are the people and places that have been involved.
Pop-Up Art Tour
Main Street Bartow's empty storefronts become pop-up art galleries to promote economic development.
A Walk Through Rehoboth Beach Main Street
Although a “beach town,” Rehoboth Beach is open 365 days a year, and with that has the unique challenge of catering to both year-round residents and tourists within a wide range of ages, interests and economic levels
Independent We Stand Makes Main Streets a Priority
In communities across the country, hardworking business owners and buy local advocates come together to foster an organized effort to reinvent and revitalize Main Streets and downtown districts.
Announcing the 2015 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center is pleased to announce that Cape Girardeau, Mo., Montclair Center, N.J., and Rawlins, Wyo. were selected as the 2015 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA) winners.
