Main Spotlight: Main Street at the Capitol

Main Takeaways

• Main Street leaders mobilized in Washington, D.C., to conduct a pilot Hill Day.
• They conducted 50 meetings with Congressional leaders on issues impacting downtowns and neighborhood districts.
• This work is supported by state advocacy efforts led by Coordinating Programs across the network.
• We encourage you to get involved with local, state, and national advocacy efforts to support the Main Street Movement!

In 2022, Main Street America launched a new strategic plan, including a key long-term objective to “Be a Leading Voice and Advocate for Place-based Economic Development and Community Preservation.” Elevating Main Street’s presence in policy conversations happens in numerous ways, but a focused and specific effort to educate and lobby Members of Congress is essential to the continued growth of our advocacy program.

Though individual Main Street programs and preservation partners have represented Main Street on the Hill in support of specific issues, May’s Capitol Hill Day was the first to bring Main Street leaders together around a Main Street-focused agenda. While developed as a pilot project, the initial feedback from participants and supporters indicates that we should consider an annual event to help Main Street leaders connect with federal legislators in Washington, D.C.

“Are You Familiar With the Main Street Program?”  

Our first step in connecting with Members of Congress began with a simple introduction to our work. Each participating Main Streeter brings their own stories, challenges, and successes to share with legislators. But while our dedication to the Main Street Movement gives us passion and enthusiasm to share our work, the first goal when introducing the program to Members of Congress is to clearly and succinctly explain what Main Street is – especially when the term “Main Street” is used very broadly in media and in policy discussions.

Introducing Main Street means connecting the dots between the places we impact and a Member’s priorities. In many circumstances, our federal representatives have engaged with local Main Street programs for years, through tours, events, and living or working in participating communities. Saying “thank you” for previous engagements or support for projects that have improved the community helps create rapport. For Congressional offices who are unfamiliar with Main Street, grounding in local examples of our work helps open conversation and connection. Building relationships and credibility with Members and their staff can lead to advancement of the network.

What Are We Advocating For? 

Beyond educating lawmakers about Main Street, advocates also made specific requests for support for programs that can help our communities.

• Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act [H.R.1785/S.639 (HTC-GO)] – The redevelopment of existing downtown buildings is both a challenge and an opportunity for Main Street districts, with 70% of Main Street leaders citing lack of built-out space as an impediment to economic development. The federal historic tax credit – along with state historic tax credits – is an essential tool to spur revitalization. HTC-GO will improve the credit by adding value, making it easier to use, and emphasizing smaller projects. 
• Prioritizing Main Street in EDA Reauthorization – As a successful economic development approach employed in thousands of communities nationwide, Main Street revitalization should be a priority consideration for reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act (S.3340/H.R. 7451, 117th Congress) is a suggested policy and funding mechanism to ensure that smaller, local business district entities such as Main Street programs can access federal funding to build capacity to support local entrepreneurs.
• Farm Bill – Every five years, Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill, which includes USDA Rural Development programs. There are small, but impactful, changes to those programs that increase their utility for Main Street:
  • Enable rehabilitation of existing property for mixes of residential and commercial uses, including facilities for emerging entrepreneurs, workforce housing, and remote workers, specifically in 
  • Incorporate explicit opportunities for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem building as part of Rural Development programs, particularly Rural Business Development Grants (RDBG), to foster a systems-based approach to small business creation in rural areas.
  • Encourage building “civic infrastructure” in rural communities to enhance community assets, build local wealth, and increase social capital particularly within Rural Development Community Facilities loans and grants.
• Appropriations Requests – Each year, Congress creates a budget through the appropriations process. The process is an opportunity to advocate that funding is allocated to existing programs that help our communities. This year, our requests included funding for Community Development Block Grants, the Historic Preservation Fund, and the USDA Rural Community Development Initiative. 

Hill Day Wrap-Up 

At the end of a long day on the Hill, Main Streeters were able to enjoy one of D.C.’s Main Street institutions, Mr. Henry’s. With support from the D.C. Main Street program, the group was welcomed by Mary Quillian Helms, who is also the board chair of the Eastern Market Main Street district. There is no better way to end a day advocating for Main Street than by patronizing a Main Street business.

Initiating a Hill Day in support of Main Street would not be possible without the support of partners and the participating Main Street advocates. MSA is grateful to our partners at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Trust Community Investment Corporation, and Hogan Lovells for guiding our advocates and providing wisdom throughout the process.

Advocacy is Network-Wide 

Our presence on Capitol Hill advocating to federal legislators is only one element of the broader effort to elevate Main Street to decision-makers at every level. Advocating for support of Coordinating Programs is essential to continuing to develop and support local Main Street efforts. In this year’s spring legislative sessions, Main Streeters in many states organized Capitol Days to bring their voice and needs directly to their elected representatives. Main Street America applauds the efforts of our Coordinating Partners.

Main Street Alabama secured increased state funding this year totaling $1.5M. With the support of a lobbying firm, the advocates reached out to both the legislature and the Governor’s office to support their funding request. During their Day on the Hill, advocates met with legislators, presented impact statistics, and greeted Governor Kay Ivy. After the Hill event, continued follow-up with legislators and the administration ensured the success of their effort.

Louisiana Main Street conducted their first ever Day at the Capitol this year. Resolutions were read and introduced in both the Senate (by Senator Glen Womack) and House (by Representative Chris Turner) Chambers designating the day as Main Street Day, with Main Street leaders present in both chambers for the announcement. Advocates sought a funding increase for the state program.

Mississippi Main Street Association held its “Main Street Day at the Capital” on March 2, 2023, with a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda and speeches given by Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. Steadfast advocacy in Mississippi lead to big accomplishments in the 2023 legislative session, including renewed funding for the state program, $3M in ARPA funding for designated communities, and a new grant program, the Mississippi Main Street Revitalization Grant. The MSSRG will provide matching grants of up to $500,000 for downtown revitalization projects in designated communities.

Washington Main Street celebrated an entire Main Street Week. With a proclamation from Governor Jay Inslee, events were held throughout the state to celebrate the impact of the program. These efforts coincide with advocacy across the state that led to successfully securing maintained funding for the coming years.

This is just a snapshot. From testimony before state legislatures, to downtown tours, and strategic communications, advocacy for Main Street is happening across the country the whole year round.

It’s Your Turn 

As MSA continues to grow its federal advocacy efforts, look out for future opportunities to join us in Washington, D.C. But don’t wait for next year! Every Main Streeter has a role to play in advocacy. At the federal level, it’s a great time to be thinking about engaging your Members of Congress during August recess. To get started:

• Review a one-pager on organizing tours here and a NTHP-organized webinar on the topic.
• Consider using one-pagers from Main Street America’s Hill Day to help inform your plan. 
• Make sure to report back to MSA on your efforts. Understanding where you have been effective in connecting with Members of Congress helps MSA advance support for Main Street across the country.  

Interested in more discussion? Use the Point to discuss advocacy issues important to your community or reach out to us at advocacy@mainstreet.org.

SnowShoe, a Main Street America Allied Member, is this quarter's Main Spotlight advertiser. For more information about what they do to support Main Street organizations, click here >