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We are excited to welcome Lynda Tran, Tyrone Rachal, and Mary Helmer Wirth to the Main Street America Board of Directors
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Registration is Open for Main Street Now 2024 Main Street!
The 2024 Main Street Now Conference is coming to Birmingham, Alabama, May 6-8.
Register today and join fellow commercial district revitalization leaders from across the country for three days of insightful education sessions, unique special events, immersive mobile workshops, and memorable experiences in Birmingham, "The Magic City." From downtowns in rural places to commercial corridors in cities, the Main Street Now Conference offers time-tested approaches, new techniques, and opportunities to exchange ideas designed to help your team address pressing issues impacting your community.
Registration Rates
Discounts and special rates are available to Main Street America members, civic leaders, and students. For additional savings, register by the early bird or regular online deadlines. Please see below for registration rates and deadlines.
Early Bird (by March 11*): $465 Member | $635 Non-Member
Regular (by April 26*): $565 Member | $735 Non-Member
On-Site: $775 Member, Non-Member
One Day: $399
Student: $200
Civic Leader: $199
Conference Merch
The official 2024 Main Street Now Conference t-shirt is available in unisex sizing and features a tribute to iconic BHAM landmarks, sites, and points of interest, plus conference activities that you can only experience in The Magic City.
Pre-sales end on March 11. A limited supply of shirts will also be available at the Main Street America booth in the Expo Hall. Add yours to your registration today!
Hotels & Travel
Hotels
Be part of the conference scene and stay in one of the official 2024 Main Street Now Conference hotels! Room blocks for conference attendees are available at the Sheraton Birmingham and The Westin Birmingham hotels, conveniently located in the heart of downtown Birmingham with direct connections to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, where conference sessions will be held. Learn more and make your reservation here >
Travel
Planes, trains, and transit...there are many ways to get to and travel around Birmingham. When booking flights, select Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) to touchdown just seven minutes from downtown. With daily service, Amtrak's Crescent Train offers connections from New York City to New Orleans. Transit options abound in Birmingham, too. Learn more about travel options here >
Education Highlights
Conference Agenda
From inspiring plenaries and immersive mobile workshops to engaging education sessions and interactive courses, the Main Street Now 2024 schedule features 150+ opportunities for local leaders to strengthen networks, gain new skills, find solutions to issues impacting their communities. Explore the agenda here >
Education Sessions & Mobile Workshops
Education sessions provide time-tested and leading-edge educational content on a wide range of topics relevant to commercial district revitalization professionals, civic leaders, board members, volunteers, and supporters of place-based economic development efforts. Mobile workshops offer immersive learning experiences and unique opportunities to experience Birmingham and surrounding communities. Preview education sessions and mobile workshops here >
Leadership Development Workshop
Looking to supercharge your conference experience? Register for the Leadership Development Workshop! Taking place ahead of the conference from May 4-5, and led by expert leadership coaches and facilitators, this workshop is a high impact, in-person professional development opportunity designed to equip Main Street leaders with the tools and strategies vital to connect, motivate, and lead people effectively. Learn more about the Leadership Development Workshop >
Experiences Await
Plan Your Conference Experience
It's never too early to start planning your Main Street Now 2024 itinerary. Come a few days early or extend your stay to experience all that The Magic City has to offer. Whether this is your first time to Birmingham or you're a seasoned visitor, make sure to check out our conference travel guide for can't miss experiences, local dining options, heritage sites, and more. Learn more and start exploring here >
Learn more about our conference policies here >
Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions here >
Questions? Email info@mainstreet.org.
Please note: Due to the high volume of requests, it may take up to 72 hours to receive a response.
Conference Co-Hosts
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Conference Sponsors
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*Deadlines are subject to change.
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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.
