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Join us in offering congratulations to eight Main Street America communities that are in the running for being recognized with the 2024 Great American Main Street Award!
A national jury of industry professionals and local leaders in the fields of economic development and historic preservation evaluated 17 applications from Main Street programs working across the country in communities of all sizes. After thoughtful consideration and deliberation, these eight organizations are being recognized as semifinalist for the prestigious Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) for excellence in fostering preservation-based revitalization efforts in their historic downtowns and commercial corridor districts through the Main Street Approach™.
“The Great American Main Street Award is the highest honor that we grant to organizations within our network,” said Matt Wagner, Chief Program Officer at Main Street America. “We are elated to recognize these eight Main Street organizations as 2024 GAMSA Semifinalists for their incredible accomplishments in transforming their downtowns through innovative programs strategically designed to preserve their unique heritage, foster economic vitality, and create a welcoming atmosphere.”
From neighborhood commercial corridors within larger cities to small towns with traditional downtowns, the 2024 GAMSA Semifinalists represent the diversity of the Main Street America network and the power of the Main Street Approach™. Semifinalists have generated over $1.48 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 881 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 3,827 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 2,164 historic buildings, and leveraged 306,986 volunteer hours.
Keep reading to learn more about each community and stay tuned to our social channels for daily semifinalist spotlights. And make sure to save the date for the award ceremony on May 6 during the opening plenary of the 2024 Main Street Now Conference in Birmingham, Alabama.
Downtown Camas Association - Camas, Washington
Founded in 2009, Downtown Camas Association has led their community through a “Mill Town Renaissance.” An operational 1883 paper mill sits at the heart of their downtown, surrounded by green streets, vibrant small businesses, and beautiful architecture. Downtown Camas Association’s economic vitality efforts have reduced their vacancy rate from 60 percent in 2009 to less than 1 percent today, fostering an environment of fun that never fails to bring families and young people downtown to explore local businesses and enjoy exciting events.
In 2020, Downtown Camas Association mobilized to save the iconic roofline lighting covering 21 buildings in the downtown district. By consulting with local experts and securing funding, they made critical updates to ensure code compliance while also extending the lights across five more buildings and increasing energy efficiency. The organization is deeply committed to the unique historic and aesthetic characteristics that make their community special, and they showcase that pride with walking tours, trivia activities, public art projects, interpretive panels, and more.
Denison Main Street - Denison, Texas
As the longest Main Street district in Texas, this powerhouse community has something for everyone. Denison’s walkable downtown offers public art, grand multi-story buildings, and attractions dedicated to the city’s rich heritage. Starting in 2011, Denison Main Street implemented the Operation Increase Occupancy program to fill their downtown vacancies. This initiative included a program to support destination businesses—including $100,000 of incentives for new wineries, breweries, distilleries, and restaurants. As a result, the downtown area is well known for its vibrant restaurant and local retail scene.
In 2020, the community was at risk of losing a unique historical asset when the Red River Railroad Museum announced their imminent closure. Denison Main Street sprang into action and supported the museum in raising awareness about their needs and hosting a community meeting. Within six months, the museum was able to re-open in a new Main Street location, and it has since seen record-high visitation, helping preserve Denison’s unique railroad history.
Downtown Lansing Inc. - Lansing, Michigan
In the heart of Michigan’s capital city, Downtown Lansing Inc., has used walkability, sustainability, and accessibility to create a Main Street that welcomes everyone. This program has a long list of successes including streetscape improvements, public art installations, state-wide business recruitment, and DEIA planning.
Before COVID, the downtown area was primarily known as a space for office workers and lunchtime eateries. The pandemic radically altered the business landscape and forced Downtown Lansing Inc., to re-evaluate their revitalization strategy and the district’s identity. They worked with businesses to expand weeknight and weekend hours, developers to bring more than 900 new housing units to the district, and new partners to expand the area’s arts and cultural offerings. These changes have ushered in a new era for downtown Lansing as a vibrant destination with a real sense of place.
NewTown Macon - Macon, Georgia
This Georgia Peach packs a real punch! Since 1996, NewTown Macon has completely transformed this southern city’s historic Main Street district. Their achievements include creating a riverfront trail, expanding downtown housing, advocating for minority business owners, and organizing a robust schedule of exciting programming. This impact is celebrated by the Downtown Hype Team, a group of volunteer ambassadors who use social media to share their love for #downtownmacon—efforts that are building hometown pride and encouraging tourism.
One of their most impactful programs is their Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), which offers loans, entrepreneurial training, and real estate coaching. This program has had a huge impact in decreasing the racial wealth gap by supporting historically underserved entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for wealth-building. Since beginning the CDFI program, NewTown Macon has distributed $598,000 in loans to Black entrepreneurs and supported $2,185,000 in investment by developers of color.
Madison Main Street Program - Madison, Indiana
Established in 1979 as one of the original three pilot Main Street programs in the country, Madison Main Street Program has played a crucial role in helping to preserve the town’s architectural and entrepreneurial heritage while continually reimagining spaces, places, and activities to meet the needs of the community. Notable preservation efforts include championing large-scale rehabilitation efforts of historic buildings, safeguarding the year-round Madison Farmers Market, and nurturing residents’ knowledge, skills, and confidence in preservation efforts through hands-on workshops.
The organization's commitment to collaboration and partnership is visible in many ways, including the Business Resiliency Fund which provided 50 businesses with rent/mortgage assistance during the pandemic and their support of the Rainbow River Club, a monthly social gathering for LGBTQ+ residents that has increased the town’s reputation as a welcoming community and directly resulted in the creation of eight new LGBTQ-owned businesses.
Monroeville Main Street - Monroeville, Alabama
In a small town in rural southwest Alabama, Monroeville Main Street is championing efforts that knit together the arts, preservation through adaptive reuse, and youth entrepreneurism to develop pride of place. Since its founding in 2014, the program has partnered with artists, local organizations, and the University of Alabama to install over 50 pieces of public art, including 14 small bronze sculptures that honor the 10 writers credited with Monroeville being named Alabama's Literary Capital. Additionally, the organization supports annual activities that keep the community’s creative heritage alive, such as their Paint the Town Paint Out plein air painting event, which is hosted in conjunction with the Monroe County Museum's Monroeville Literary Festival.
Monroeville Main Street has also led efforts to significantly decrease the district’s vacancy rate by championing adaptive reuse projects, such as sub-dividing the lower floors of large buildings into smaller, more affordable spaces and adding upper story residences, thereby breathing new life to historic buildings and creating opportunities for residential and commercial growth. Through their B.O.U.Y. program, the organization seeks to recruit downtown business from within the town’s youth and young adults by providing free business courses, one-on-one support, and seed funding.
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group - Mount Vernon, Iowa
In Mount Vernon's historic 12-block downtown district, the words “All are Welcome Here” grace the entrance to the newly built Hilltop Pocket Park and serve as a commitment to residents, visitors, and businesses. Founded in 2008, the Mount Vernon Main Street program has led efforts to rebuild historic structures damaged by tragic events and implemented creative approaches to economic development, such as converting a former middle school into a business incubator and hosting a business plan contest whose grand prize consists of one year's free rent and utilities. To date, the organization’s economic vitality initiatives have resulted in 61 net new businesses and 71 net new jobs.
Mount Vernon Main Street’s signature outside the box ethos can be found in their robust volunteer program, which welcomes involvement from community members of all ages and backgrounds through joyful service. Committee chairs and sub-committee leaders tap into their networks to recruit volunteers with diverse passions—from culinary traditions and historic preservation to preparing mailers and organizing unique events. To date, Mount Vernon Main Street’s 520 volunteers have logged 68,210 volunteer hours.
Swiss Bear, Inc. - New Bern, North Carolina
Settled by Swiss immigrants in the 18th century, New Bern is rich with historical, cultural and natural resource legacies. As one of the original 30 Main Street communities, Swiss Bear, Inc., has led revitalizing efforts in their downtown since 1980. In 2010, they embarked on a community-driven process to add the historically underserved African American commercial area of Five Points to their district and revitalization efforts. This expansion has resulted in 11 building rehabilitations, 13 new businesses, a vocational-technical facility, and new housing, as well as plans for continued shared prosperity.
Much of the Main Street is located within a National Register of Historic Places district, and Swiss Bear, Inc., has shown a significant commitment to preserving this unique heritage. In 2021, they facilitated the purchase of the Elks Building, a five-story space originally constructed in 1908 that had been vacant since the 1990s. The organization also offers façade improvement services and offers a property improvement grant to guarantee the future of their historic assets. To date, their historic preservation efforts have led to the rehabilitation of over 250 structures, including the creation of upper floor housing units, office/gallery spaces, and theatres.
Tune in to the Main Street America social media channels for daily spotlights of each semifinalist, September 27 – October 6, 2023. Save the date for the award ceremony on May 6 during the opening plenary of the 2024 Main Street Now Conference in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Meet the winners of this award recognizing Main Street excellence.
Community Spotlight: Welcoming Parramore to Orlando Main Streets!
Meet Parramore, a historically African-American community in Orlando, Florida.
Orlando, FL © Tyla Harrington
Community Spotlight: Women Leaders Series — Week Four
Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs.
Community Spotlight: Women Leaders Series — Week Three
Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs.
Community Spotlight: Women Leaders Series — Week Two
Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs.
Community Spotlight: Women Leaders Series — Week One
Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs.
INVEST South/West Chicago Reaches Two-year Milestone
Main Street America's partners in Chicago celebrate two years of training and technical assistance in the city.
Chicago, IL © Main Street America
Main Spotlight: Better Community Planning & Economic Development Series with Ed McMahon
Leverage NC, a partnership between North Carolina Main Street and the North Carolina League of Municipalities, hosted a four-part webinar series titled Better Community Planning & Economic Development led by Ed McMahon, Chair Emeritus of Main Street America and a leading national authority on land use policy and economic development.
Community Spotlight: Main Street America’s Field Team Gets Back on the Road
After many zoom meetings, our road warriors are back visiting communities and providing technical assistance.
Washington, IA © Kathy La Plante
2020 Year in Review: A Letter to the Network
President and CEO Patrice Frey reflects on 2020 and the early events of 2021.
Florence, SC © True Light Photography
HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program: First Round Recipient Spotlights
These 67 recipients from across the country ranged from bakeries and boutiques to salons and museums, but they all shared a commitment to the program's goals of responding and adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic and helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic downtown commercial districts.
New Research from Brookings and the National Main Street Center on the Value of Main Street Organizations
The Brookings Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking released a new series of research briefs focused on the role that place governance organizations, like Main Street programs, play in revitalizing rural downtowns and promoting equitable rural economic and community development.
Congratulations to the 2020 MSARP Recipients!
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.
