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Three Main Street America Staff members standing in front of a mural in Marion, Iowa.

Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams

About

We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.

Overview Who We Are How We Work Partner Collaborations Our Supporters Our Team Job Opportunities Contact Us
Two community members in Emporia Kansas pose with a sign saying "I'm a Main Streeter"

Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street

Our Network

Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.

Overview Coordinating Programs Main Street Communities Collective Impact Awards & Recognition Community Evaluation Framework Join the Movement
Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America

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Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!

Overview Knowledge Hub Field Services Government Relations Main Street Now Conference Main Street America Institute Small Business Support Allied Member Services The Point Members Area
People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

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Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.

Overview News & Stories Events & Opportunities Subscribe
Woman and girl at a festival booth in Kendall Whittier, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street

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Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

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December 10, 2018 | Opportunity Zones Come Into Focus | By Anthony Veerkamp, Director of Policy Development, Research & Policy Lab, at the National Trust for Historic Preservation | 
louisvillegardens_flickr_davidswinney_cc.jpgThe National Register–listed 1905 Louisville Gardens (originally the Jefferson County Armory) is highlighted as an investment opportunity in Louisville’s Opportunity Zone Prospectus. | Photo Credit: Photo by David Swinney is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

By now, you’ve probably heard about Opportunity Zones, but you may still not be sure whether to be excited, alarmed, or indifferent regarding their implications for your community. That’s no surprise—depending on whom you ask, Opportunity Zones constitute either the most significant federal community development incentive in a generation or one of the biggest tax giveaways to the rich in American history. 

Preservationists and community advocates have reason to be wary of visionary big fixes for economically distressed communities. Urban Renewal had grandiose community development goals, and we know how well that went. Over the course of a quarter-century, more than 2,000 construction projects nationwide resulted in the demolition of 600,000 housing units. Two million residents were displaced, most of them African Americans and other people of color, and thousands of small businesses were forced to close.

Initial research by the National Trust for Historic Preservation shows a strong correlation between Opportunity Zones and preservation. Many are in older neighborhoods, including National Register of Historic Places districts and local landmark districts. Of the 1,035 historic tax credit (HTC) projects completed nationwide in 2017, 46 percent were in Opportunity Zones. And 48 percent of designated Main Street communities are in Opportunity Zones as well. 

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This article was originally published on the Preservation Leadership Forum’s blog.