The Simons Foundation Science Discovery on Main Street

The Science Discovery on Main Street grant program provides funding and support to help Main Street communities research, identify, and celebrate their unique scientific assets or history through partnerships and programming. 

Through the Science Discovery on Main Street grant program, communities will receive professional support to explore science engagement activities as Promotion, as defined by the Four Point Approach. By connecting the Main Street Approach and science engagement, this program will help your community take steps towards inspiring curiosity, joy, and pride in what makes your community unique and towards attracting visitors through science-inspired events and activities. 

Designated Main Street Communities may apply for one (1) of twelve (12) Discovery Grants of $12,500.

Discovery Grants will be used to:

• Complete asset mapping and a community engagement process to research, explore, and identify local science assets, with support from planning and science engagement experts.
• Devise plans to create with partners new, potential creative signature events and community engagement activities that celebrate and invite others to explore your unique science assets.

After the Discovery Grant period, there will be an opportunity for up to seven (7) communities to receive Implementation Grants to put their plans into action.

Grantees will also:

• Receive additional 1‑on‑1 technical assistance;
• Participate in cohort learning and connection opportunities, and;
• Receive support for one (1) person to attend the Main Street Now conference in Philadelphia in April 2025 for a special required convening of Science Discovery on Main Street recipients to learn, network, and share ideas.

A science asset is a unique facet of your community or place that can be leveraged for learning, creative events, activities, or placemaking for your community. Science engagement can take many forms. See this blog from Ben Wiehe, Manager of Experimental Practice at the MIT Museum and Manager of the Science Festival Alliance, for more on engaging with science on Main Street.

Examples of engaging with science on Main Street:

• Themed events that highlight unique science assets of your town
• A parade that includes science
• Science-based movie nights 
• Local trivia nights that include science categories

Rural Main Street America designated communities (Accredited and Affiliate) in good standing are invited to apply for this grant program. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Main Street America designated community organization
• Located in a rural area (population of 50,000 or less)
• Commitment to creating science engagement opportunities for residents through Main Street organization and/​or by leveraging partnerships 
• The organization’s annual operating budget is less than $1 million 

Full eligibility requirements are coming soon.

Unsure of your Main Street America designation or member status? Contact membership@​mainstreet.​org or (312) 610‑5613.

We are looking for passionate Main Street leaders, especially from under-resourced and under-funded rural communities, who want to:

• Develop fresh approaches to community identity and programming;
• Promote scientific curiosity in their residents and visitors;
• Breathe new life into downtown areas and public spaces.

Applications will be judged based on the following evaluation criteria:

Evaluation Criteria

• Community Need
• Commitment to Exploring Science & Science Engagement for your Main Street
• Partners, Engagement, Resources
• Sustainability & Feasibility

• Discover new ways to highlight hidden gems of scientific significance in your community’s history or environment;
• Create unique activities around this asset that set your community apart;
• Receive professional support to explore using science engagement for Main Street Promotions;
• Boost local pride and engagement in your community;
• Attract attention, and visitors and increase foot traffic in your Main Street district;
• Use science engagement activities to help your Main Street district put the Main Street Approach into full effect.
• Foster new and existing partnerships with local partners towards a more vibrant Main Street. 

• Historical scientific events or innovations with scientific significance
• Birthplaces or homes of famous (or lesser known) scientists
• Unique natural phenomena (e.g., rare local flowers and flora, unique local tree species, bioluminescence)
• Special geographical features (e.g. unique trails or vistas, geological sites of significance)
• Agricultural products with unique biological aspects
• Unique opportunities or ideal conditions for scientific activities (e.g., dark sky communities for star gazing and solar observation)

For this grant program, your community does not have to have a science asset. In fact, we ask that all participating communities go through the Discovery process – even if they have one already in mind.

The Science Discovery on Main Street grant program application is open now and will close on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT. Apply here. Be sure to subscribe to our emails here to get a reminders and other important announcements. 

Click here to apply now.