Board Spotlight: Meet Main Street America’s Three New Board Members
We are excited to welcome Lynda Tran, Tyrone Rachal, and Mary Helmer Wirth to the Main Street America Board of Directors
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 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.
Register by March 11 to lock in big savings with the Early Bird rate!
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 (outlined below).
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
*Deadlines are subject to change
Conference Merch
Pre-sales of the official 2024 Main Street Now Conference t‑shirts end on March 11, too! A limited supply of shirts will be available at the Main Street America booth in the Expo Hall. Guarantee that you get one of these limited-edition tees – featuring iconic BHAM sites and conference activities – by adding one to your registration. Get yours today!
Hotel Updates
Conference room blocks at hotels have reached capacity. We are working to secure additional rooms at these hotels and others. As conference room blocks become available, we will provide details on the conference website. If you are interested in booking a reservation at these hotels, you may check the booking links periodically, as rooms may become available due to cancellations. For updates, please check this page >
Agenda Spotlights
NEW! Main Street Preservation Short Course
Sunday, May 5, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
$100, Additional registration required.
Join the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions in this one-day program on how Main Streets can take advantage of their historic assets to drive community development. The Main Street Preservation Short Course is designed to educate Main Street professionals and volunteers on how to incorporate the work of preservation commissions and Certified Local Governments (CLGs) in their planning, programming, and day to day operations. This course will also address elements of resilience and disaster planning for your Main Street. This session offers AIA and AICP CE credits.
City Walk BHAM, a transformed area within the I‑59/20 corridor with direct connections to BJCC and downtown sites. © Greater Richmond CVB
Welcome Reception at City Walk BHAM
Sunday, May 5, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Included with registration. RSVP preferred.
Meet us for an amazing party at City Walk BHAM! Catch up with old friends and make new ones while enjoying delicious bites from local food trucks, refreshing libations, and incredible live entertainment. Whether you are a first-time conference guest or frequent attendee, the Welcome Reception is the best way to kick-off your Main Street Now 2024 experience. Come to mix, mingle, and get energized for a fun night out experiencing Birmingham’s dynamic dining scene with colleagues. Learn more about City Walk BHAM here >
Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth © Alabama Department of Archives & History, Photo by Robert Adams/Birmingham News
Shuttlesworth Documentary Screening and Q&A
Monday, May 6, 1:00 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
Tickets: $5, includes lunch. Pre-registration required.
Join us for a special screening of the critically acclaimed documentary, Shuttlesworth. Featuring exclusive interviews with Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, family members, and colleagues, the film examines Shuttlesworth’s crucial contributions to the Civil Rights Movement which, in turn, helped amplify the integral role that Birmingham played as the catalyst in propelling the movement onto the national stage. After the screening, film producers, T. Marie King and J. Winston, will join us for a Q&A discussion. Watch a preview of the documentary here >
For more information about sessions and the schedule, explore the agenda here >
Mobile Workshops: Peak Immersive Learning
Mobile workshops offer immersive learning experiences and unique opportunities to experience Birmingham and surrounding communities. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Mobile workshops are reaching capacity quickly – add a workshop (or two) to your registration today! Keep reading for today’s recommendations. Preview all mobile workshops here >
Sloss Furnaces exterior stacks. © JC Streeets
Industrial History in Alabama
Birmingham
Tuesday, May 7, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Get an up-close look at the massive machinery that powered Sloss Furnaces and learn about the innovations that made this site an important part of Birmingham’s industrial past. Visit the Vulcan Park and Museum to learn the story of the iconic 56-ft tall cast iron statue and experience breathtaking views of downtown Birmingham and beyond from the observation tower.
Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium. © Montgomery Biscuits
A New Day in Montgomery
Montgomery
Sunday, May 5, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Immerse yourself in Montgomery’s rich history through the exploration of historic landmarks and beautiful architecture. Gain insights into the significance of each site and its role in shaping Montgomery’s identity and learn about public art and adaptive reuse projects that have created a district of progress while showcasing the cultural enhancements from the past six decades.
Boom Town Market Place in Fort Payne © Fort Payne Main Street
Two Blue Collar Towns and Their Revival Story
Gadsden & Fort Payne
Sunday, May 5, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Learn how Gadsden went from being named one of the worst places to live in America to a thriving Main Street community with a vibrant retail, restaurant, and bar scene. In Fort Payne, learn how the Main Street district embraces its natural surroundings, cultural heritage, and rebounding textile industry for future success.
16th Street Baptist Church illuminated at sunset. © Steve Dunlap
16th Street Baptist Church & Kelly Ingram Park
Birmingham
Monday, May 6, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Learn about the church’s role in the Civil Rights Movement (including an optional video that addresses the church’s history and bombing in 1963), followed by an exploration of Kelly Ingram Park, an assembly point for participants of “Project C,” which included organized sit-ins, boycotts, marches, and jailings designed to end segregation in Birmingham.
Celebrate!
Big Bash at Sloss Furnaces
Wednesday, May 8
Ticketed
Celebrate the closing of Main Street Now 2024 with a party at Sloss Furnaces, one of Birmingham’s unique historic landmarks. Join friends and colleagues for hors d’oeuvres, beverages, entertainment, and dancing while you immerse yourself in the Magic City’s industrial ironworks heritage. You don’t want to miss this Big Bash experience!
Space is limited and tickets are selling fast – only 100 left! Purchase your ticket during registration or add it on to your existing registration by clicking the link included in your confirmation email.
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.
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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.
