Community Spotlight: How Science Inspires Main Streets

Science is a powerful tool for engaging, inspiring, and exciting people and it offers an opportunity to create fun, unique experiences for residents and visitors of all ages. Earlier this year, Main Street America partnered with the Simons Foundation for the In the Path of Totality Initiative to help Main Street communities create meaningful and memorable experiences leading up to and during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Launching this month, we are once again partnering with the Simons Foundation for the Science Discovery on Main Street grant program, an initiative that aims to help Main Streets uncover and leverage their unique science assets, history, and features in order to build local pride and create engaging local attractions and activities. Find more information, such as eligibility requirements and the application timeline, here >

To help you understand how science can bring people together and be fun for all ages, here are three examples of creative science programming from grant recipients of the In the Path of Totality program. The participating Main Streets learned about the impact of science and the ways it can help them advance their strategic goals. 

SoMa 501 Little Rock Inc. (Little Rock, Arkansas)

“Gasps. Awes. Screams. Whoops and hollers.” This is how Elizabeth Michael, Executive Director at SoMa 501 Little Rock Inc., described her community’s experience during the solar eclipse. People from all around the world joined them for their celebration, a series of events they hosted called SoMa in the Dark. ​“It opened our eyes to science-based events,” said Elizabeth.

The eclipse showed them the power of science along all Four Points of the Main Street Approach. Their event brought them national attention and helped them forge new partnerships that will enrich their impact. It also inspired people to get involved with the Main Street. It even attracted an investor who is interested in a new development that will extend SoMa’s commercial hub.

Before and after the eclipse, SoMa is figuring out how to bring science into their Main Street programming. ​“Many of our eclipse planning committee members are serving on the committee for our SoMa Pride Parade and Street Festival coming up on June 1,” said Elizabeth. ​“They requested to incorporate the science behind rainbows as part of the festivities. We also have a standing SoMa Learns quarterly educational seminar and typically teach about social media or website design. We [also] plan on incorporating science curriculum into this series that may impact our businesses, like how weather patterns affect business.”

City of Mesquite Downtown Development (Mesquite, Texas)

Downtown Mesquite, Texas — the rodeo capital of the world — created the Solar Rodeo, a community festival weekend for eclipse that brought residents downtown and visitors from across the country and the world, engaging them in fun activities and the science behind the eclipse. ​“In a blue-collar community that isn’t always a ​‘darling’ in local media, it was an uplifting experience to be at the heart of the eclipse universe,” said Beverly Abell, Downtown Development Manager at the City of Mesquite. In addition to their weekend of activities and fun, Mesquite celebrated the eclipse by hosting a large community gathering, including four official viewing sites across the city. 

“The hunger for scientific understanding of the eclipse was very much evident at our interactive booths,” said Beverly. The city is now interested in exploring the possibility of a children’s museum to bring together students and families in the area and inspire the next generation of scientists. 

Main Street Brookville, Inc. (Brookville, Indiana)

As an announcer counted down the seconds leading up to the total solar eclipse, Main Street Brookville SuzAnne McMillin-Biehl felt an indescribable bond between those who observed the awe-inspiring event together. ​“There were an estimated 8,100 people in attendance throughout the event, including residents and visitors from all over the country,” said SuzAnne, Vice President of the Main Street Brooksville, Inc., board of directors. 

They plan on holding a ​“reclipse” event next year to re-share some of their science content and collect and share stories, photos, and memorabilia from the eclipse. ​“The board is also keen to begin discussions and collaborations on new event ideas to continue building on the science-based theme and providing educational experiences for the community,” said SuzAnne.

Bring Science to Your Main Street

Interested in discovering and tapping into your community’s unique science opportunities and assets? 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 promotions. 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.