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The opening plenary of the 2024 Main Street Now Conference. © Tosha Gaines Photography/Main Street America
It was an absolute honor to see so many of you at Main Street Now 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama, earlier this month. But I know that it wasn’t possible for everyone to be there. Many of us have family obligations or restraints that don’t allow us to travel right now. Know that you were missed, and we hope to see you next year in Philadelphia, April 7 – 9, 2025.
For those of you who were there, and for those of you who weren’t, I want to share my reflections from Birmingham with you. I knew that it was going to be magical (because everyone talks about how magical our conference is), but I wasn’t fully prepared for how amazing it would be. I left Birmingham feeling grateful, energized, and optimistic about our movement. I took a ton of notes and met so many incredible people. I’d like to take a moment to reflect on a few things from my first Main Street Now Conference and share the five aspirations for the movement that I offered during the Opening Plenary. (Download a copy of my full remarks here.)
Thank you to everyone who came up to me during the conference to introduce themselves (and their family members) and to tell me about their Main Streets, their jobs, and their aspirations for this movement. These conversations remind me that a lot of this work is about family. Thank you for bringing your sisters and your kids and your spouses along with you to this conference, and to the work in your communities!
I had so many eye-opening conversations about ability, placemaking, health, property ownership, and more, and I’m returning to my day-to-day work with new ways of thinking our work and how we find power in our wisdom and strength through our connections with one another.
I know many of you enjoyed the Main Idea fireside chat with Dr. Mindy Fullilove, social psychiatrist, professor of urban planning, and author of Main Street: How A Cities Heart Connects Us All. If you missed it, we will share a recap on the blog soon, and just know that Mindy invited everyone to come walk her Main Street with her in Orange, New Jersey.
I want to hear from you—keep reading for details!
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Erin (right), with Hannah White, Chief Impact Officer at Main Street America (center), and Renee Kuhlman, Senior Director of Outreach & Support at National Trust for Historic Preservation (left). © Tosha Gaines Photography/Main Street America
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Main Street America visionary Mary Means (left) takes a photo of Erin dancing with a conference attendee at the closing plenary. © Tosha Gaines Photography/Main Street America
MY FIVE ASPIRATIONS FOR LOCAL LEADERS AND THE MAIN STREET MOVEMENT
As I mentioned during the opening plenary, I’ve been thinking a lot about how best to steward this movement into a future of very real challenges. Here are five aspirations I’d like to name:
NUMBER ONE—and most important aspiration for myself and this movement—is to stay humble and learn. If there’s one thing that we can expect, it’s that the unexpected will happen sooner or later. Whether it’s something disruptive like a natural disaster, or a new kind of technology, or a major political shift, or just that everyone decides they no longer want craft beer and they only want artisanal bubble gum, there will always be someone who anticipates the shift, sees it coming, and gets it right. There will always be new ways of doing things. Let’s not get so locked into our expertise that we lose sight of this. Instead, let’s keep our eyes and ears and hearts open.
NUMBER TWO: Invite others to the table who might not otherwise volunteer but might be sitting on some truly great ideas. Think about who might have been excluded in the past and do the work of bridging that divide with genuine curiosity. Main Streets are a product of deliberate co-creation that’s rooted in listening and trust. We can only create inclusive places that are welcoming for everyone when we create them with everyone.
NUMBER THREE: Think beyond the ways we usually see ourselves—as engines of local economic development, historic preservation, and small business support—and start thinking of ourselves in new ways that communicate the complexity of our work. We are healers against the epidemic of loneliness, and we are first responders on the front lines of climate emergencies like extreme heat, tornadoes and floods, and we are drivers of a new civic infrastructure of connectedness that’s centered on place, and we are choreographers, and we are storytellers, and we are designers of public space. (I want this list to go on, and I want you to help me create it. My three requests of you are below, but one is related to this item: tell me how you communicate the complexity of this work and of your job.)
NUMBER FOUR: Welcome newcomers, and I mean truly welcome all newcomers. This means local and regional tourists, and it means young professionals and families who are relocating to our communities. But even more it means new immigrants and migrants who come to our communities to work in the service sector, or in our agricultural fields and packing plants. Take the time to get to know these newcomers as people, ask them about their traditions and their favorite foods, and ask them what ideas they have for the place they now call home. These newcomers bring with them a tremendous amount of entrepreneurial spirit. Ask them what they need to help start a business — it just might become your favorite place on your main street!
NUMBER FIVE: Be thoughtful and honest with each other about the intended and unintended ways in which our work shapes our communities. If something didn’t work out as planned, be bold in naming it and be proactive in how we can be better next time. We’re all learning together, and we can learn a lot from each other. And share ideas and opportunities around how we can expand our reach. We have great tools in our toolbox. So how can we apply them toward affordable housing? Toward workforce development? Toward inclusive processes? There’s so much expertise in this room and in our movement. Let’s unlock it together and see what else we can grow.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!
Tell me what’s on your mind and what you would add to my list of aspirations. Send me an email (ebarnes@mainstreet.org) or post a video to social media and tag me on Instagram (@erinargyle) or LinkedIn (Erin Barnes).
- Introduce yourself! Tell me about you, your Main Street, and your community. I shared in Birmingham that based on some quick math, it’s going to take me 125 years to visit every Main Street in the network if I visit two per month, so help a sister out, and send me a video so I can get to know your work more experientially.
- Tell me the story of how your Main Street is inclusive and welcoming. Send me a link to a news story about your work, or write to me about it, or take a walk down your main street and make a selfie video showing it to me.
- Talk to me: what metaphor do you use to describe your job? Seriously, give it some thought, and walk me through the metaphor. If nothing is coming to you, tell me how you explain your job to your kid or to your mom. Make a video of yourself explaining it, and send it to me!
I can’t wait to meet more of you!
Erin Barnes
President and CEO, Main Street America
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Meet the latest graduates of our certificate program for leaders in commercial district revitalization.
Main Spotlight: Developing a Toolbox to Help Manage Growth on Main Street
Georgetown has developed a strong Downtown Master Plan that helps serve as a guide-point for planning efforts in downtown
Announcing the 2020 Mary Means Leadership Award Recipient
Meet Sharon Jablonski, the Director of Morganton Main Street in Morganton, North Carolina, and the first recipient of the Mary Means Leadership Award.
Announcing the 2020 Great American Main Street Award Winners
Congratulations to these Main Street programs for their fantastic work!
Community Spotlight: Missouri Main Street Connection Leads the Iowa Community Expedition
Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) had the opportunity to take Missouri Executive Directors and other community representatives on the Iowa Community Expedition
District Spotlight: Pontiac, Michigan
In response, UrbanMain and Main Street Oakland County joined forces in March 2018 to assist Pontiac stakeholders in putting their downtown organization back on a positive track, making Pontiac the first community in Michigan to participate in the UrbanMain initiative.
2018 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Winning Sites
American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street America announced the winners of the 2018 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets campaign.
2018 Community Transformation Workshop Recap
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.
