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From left: Macon, Georgia © Jessica Whitley Photography; Madison, Indiana © Austin Sims; Monroeville, Alabama © Monroeville Main Street
Main Street America is proud to recognize NewTown Macon in Macon, Georgia; Madison Main Street Program in Madison, Indiana; and Monroeville Main Street in Monroeville, Alabama, as the 2024 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) winners. This prestigious award is the nation’s top award recognizing communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization. The 2024 GAMSA honors, sponsored by The Hartford, were presented today at the opening plenary for the Main Street Now Conference in Birmingham, Alabama.
“Macon, Madison, and Monroeville serve as exemplary models for reenergizing downtown districts through collective action,” commented Main Street America President and CEO Erin Barnes. “Though each organization is unique in their approach, they all demonstrate excellence in fostering vibrant downtowns through grassroots economic development, preservation with a purpose, and creative problem solving.”
Macon, Georgia © Mike Young Photography
NewTown Macon – Macon, Georgia
Situated on the banks of the Ocmulgee River, downtown Macon is bustling with over 120 locally owned and operated restaurants, retailers, and entertainment venues. In 1996, the same district struggled with boarded up storefronts and neglected, vacant buildings. Where many saw a dead and decaying downtown, others envisioned a world-class city. Through the tenacious leadership of various stakeholders, the community rallied to form NewTown Macon which began implementing transformation strategies rooted in the Main Street Approach™. Macon officially became a Main Street community in 2011 and NewTown Macon adopted the Main Street program in 2018, leading to more synergy in Macon’s revitalization efforts and strengthened communication efforts amongst all downtown stakeholders.
NewTown Macon’s core values of local loyalty, imagination, action, empowerment, and accountability, serve as cornerstones for the organization’s commitment to grassroots revitalization efforts. To ensure that their work reflects the diversity of the community, NewTown Macon engages in initiatives designed to foster a welcoming district and to nurture generational wealth building through entrepreneurship and property ownership. The organization bolsters their commitment to attracting, retaining, and growing small businesses with engaging promotional events that encourage visitors to patronize downtown retailers. Through accessible loan capital using historic tax credits, NewTown Macon has added 371 units of housing, 67 storefronts, and over 1000 residents. The organization has also helped 23 local entrepreneurs purchase and renovate commercial spaces for their businesses and has leveraged $4.5 million to fund 100 grants pitched and implemented by residents designed to realize visions outlined in the Macon Action Plan.
Now, the downtown is a thriving hub of activity for residents, visitors, and entrepreneurs eager to create a vibrant and prosperous future for generations of Maconites to come.
Madison, Indiana © Austin Sims
Madison Main Street Program – Madison, Indiana
Founded in 1979 as one of the nation’s first three pilot Main Street programs, Madison Main Street Program (MMSP) has leveraged their community’s unique assets to create a downtown district buzzing with historic character, local pride, and over 270 locally owned businesses. When MMSP began implementing the Main Street Approach™, downtown Madison faced many of the same problems impacting most rural Midwest towns in the late 1970s: the disappearance of residents and businesses due to urban sprawl. Over the past 40 years, MMSP leaders and partners have reversed this trend through community consensus and initiatives that balance historic preservation with forward-thinking ideas.
One particularly notable example of MMSP’s dedication to future-focused historic preservation is the adaptive renovation of the historic Eagle Cotton Mill (b. 1884), an abandoned and blighted 72,000-square-foot building located at the downtown’s gateway. The organization’s track record of creating a vibrant downtown district provided the project’s team with confidence to undertake and complete the $23 million investment. Madison Main Street Program also takes a steady and strategic approach to catalyzing downtown vibrancy. Biennial loft tours, market data-informed business recruitment, and free small business workshops are attracting more residents and entrepreneurs to the downtown. Additionally, the organization’s commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive revitalization movement through their Recruitment Task Force and support of the Rainbow River club, a monthly social gathering for LGBTQ+ community members, has enhanced Madison’s reputation as a welcoming place and has added eight new LGTBQ+ owned businesses to the downtown.
Today, downtown Madison is a beacon where historic preservation is a community commitment, culture and the arts are celebrated, and residents and newcomers alike are choosing to stay for a lifetime.
Monroeville, Alabama © Pierce Drones
Monroeville Main Street – Monroeville, Alabama
In rural southwest Alabama, where the Black Belt Heritage Area meets the coastal plain, Monroeville is a small town making monumental strides in enhancing the quality of life of its residents and creating an inviting international tourist destination. Just nine years ago, the historic district suffered from a high vacancy rate of 31 percent, with many of its buildings sitting empty and unused. In 2014, Monroeville Main Street was established to revive the downtown. Through catalytic projects, strategic initiatives, and passionate people, downtown Monroeville has experienced a profound aesthetic and economic turnaround.
Initial efforts included small, but highly visible, design and promotion projects such as branded pedestrian banners, sidewalk pressure cleaning, and the installation of self-watering planters. Monroeville Main Street then leveraged the community’s revived pride of place to celebrate the town’s literary heritage through public art projects including the installation of 17 murals, 14 bronze sculptures, and a 24-panel story trail. They have also worked with local developers and other partners to facilitate the renovation and adaptive reuse of 42 properties, resulting in the creation of 15 loft apartments, 12 new commercial spaces, and 23 smaller and more affordable storefronts. From façade improvements to complete restorations, these projects (valued at $6 million) have breathed new life into the downtown’s historic buildings. To date, 42 new businesses have opened, creating over 72 new jobs — a significant number for the town of 5,900 residents — and the vacancy rate has dropped to 5 percent.
Monroeville’s commitment to historic preservation and dedication to working with partners to maintain their rich arts and architectural heritage is fueling a renaissance in Alabama’s Literary Capital for generations to come.
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An essential component of the Main Street America Institute, the three-day in-person workshop gives participants hands-on tools to enact revitalization projects in their communities.
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.
Community Spotlight: Main Street Hampton
Main Street Hampton hosted a Food and Friends Farm-to-Table dinner at the Rustic Brew during Main Street Iowa Restaurant Week.
Community Spotlight: Partners in Preservation 2018
From community gathering spaces to retail incubators, from small towns to big cities – this year’s projects and communities are a testament to the diversity of Main Streets across the country.
Community Spotlight: Ames, Iowa
Downtown Ames hosted a festival for the 46th annual RAGBRAI race (The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa).
7 Ways To Bring Your Main Street On Screen
You don’t need to be a big-name district to make a video that goes viral; you just need to know what you’re doing.
Comcast Newsmakers: Revitalizing Downtown
Matt Wagner, National Main Street Center's Vice President of Revitalization Programs, discusses competitive advantages, incrementalism and the power of the Main Street America network
Community Spotlight: Main Street Homer, Louisiana
Main Street Homer (Homer, Louisiana) was awarded a $25,000 A Community Thrives social impact grant from Gannett/USA Today Network to create an arts center with affordable artist studios and classroom/event space.
Evolution, Acceptance, and Change: The Main Street Approach as a Catalyst for Revitalization
Nearly slated for demolition 30 years ago, downtown Cedar Falls has experienced an amazing transformation through its revitalization journey using the Main Street Approach.
Main Street Roots Run Deep in Downtown Wytheville
Since starting as Executive Director, Todd has helped the organization achieve Virginia Main Street Designation Status and national Accreditation.
Announcing the 2018 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center, Inc., announced Downtown Oregon City, Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency, and Howell Main Street as the 2018 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) winners during its annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Main Streets in Action
We rolled out four new Main Street America videos highlighting the power of the Main Street movement, Main Street Approach, economic impact of Main Street, and the incredible volunteers that make Main Street's grassroots network so effective.
Community Spotlight: Ridgefield Main Street
Ridgefield Main Street is an energetic, up-and-coming Washington Main Street program located just north of Vancouver, Washington.
Want to do something big? Start small.
A series of small, incremental improvements, when taken together, provide momentum for long-term economic transformation and improved quality of life in a community.
Michigan Main Street Refresh Implementation: The Refresh from Our Communities’ Perspective
Here's a bit of background on each of the communities. Read on for the Refresh Implementation Q&A.
Announcing the 2017 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center, Inc. announced the 2017 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) during its annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Reality of Main Street — Letter from the President
The National Main Street Center and the Brookings Institution have jointly authored a response to Mr. Hyman’s piece, The Reality of Main Street, that is featured on Brookings’ blog.
Michigan Main Street Refresh Implementation: Our Process and Lessons Learned So Far
Michigan Main Street Center was the first Coordinating Program to implement the new Main Street approach on a large scale. In this article, they share their robust process and valuable lessons.
The Reality of Main Street
There is another way for smaller communities to compete in today’s economy and we believe a strong main street strategy is at the heart of it.
The Myth of Main Street? Letter from the President
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.
