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
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Register for Main Street Now 2024!
We are excited to announce details about this year's Main Idea session and a special screening of a new documentary–two experiences that you can only find at the 2024 Main Street Now Conference in 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.
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
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!
Hotel Updates
Conference room blocks at the Westin Birmingham and Sheraton Birmingham hotels have reached capacity. We are working with both hotels to potentially add additional rooms. 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.
To avoid uncertainty in securing accommodations, we highly recommend checking out room blocks that are available at the Redmont Hotel Birmingham and the Historic Tutwiler Hotel-Hampton Inn & Suites, each located within walking distance from the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Learn more about hotels and travel options here >
Session Spotlights
Shuttlesworth Documentary Screening and Q&A
Monday, May 6
Tickets: $5, includes lunch. Pre-registration required.
Join us for a special lunchtime screening of the critically acclaimed documentary, Shuttlesworth. Featuring exclusive interviews with Reverend 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, we will be joined for a discussion and Q&A with producers, T. Marie King and J. Winston. Watch a preview of the documentary >
Main Idea Session with Dr. Mindy Fullilove
Monday, May 7
Included with registration.
We are excited to announce that Erin Barnes, Main Street America President and CEO, will host the Main Idea session with special guest Dr. Mindy Fullilove. In this fireside-style chat hear how well-designed, equitable spaces can create more connection to place and people, which can catalyze healing for communities that have experienced disinvestment. The Main Idea session is generously sponsored by the Philip A. Morris Fund for the Design Arts, a fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Learn more about Dr. Mindy Fullilove >
For more information about sessions and the schedule, explore the agenda here >
Mobile Workshops
One-of-a-Kind Experiences
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 >
- Food Sustainability in an Urban Area - Birmingham | Tour the Jones Valley Teaching Farm's community garden, farm center, and plots that community gardeners lease. Learn how the farm uses vibrant outdoor learning spaces and food as a foundation for creating opportunities for young people to lead, create, and grow a healthy future for themselves and their community.
- Main Streets in Shelby County - Calera, Columbiana & Montevallo | Learn how these three cities have leveraged resources, fostered partnerships, and successfully implemented adaptive reuse projects to expand and promote public art, create festivals, and successfully blend diverse community identities to build vibrant business districts offering something for everyone.
- Rebuilding Neighborhoods and Making Good Health Simple - Birmingham | Tour two Live HealthSmart Alabama (LHSA) demonstration zones in the city of Birmingham, Bush Hills, and East Lake. Hear from LHSA advocates and leaders, explore the improved facilities, and observe the Mobile Wellness Van and the Mobile Market in action.
- The Power of Collaboration in East Alabama - Anniston, Heflin & Oxford | Explore three historic districts that are physically, financially, and culturally distinct. Learn how each city has invested in civic infrastructure projects that have increased foot traffic and spurred significant private investment, as well as civic pride.
Celebrate
Big Bash at Sloss Furnaces
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. 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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*Deadlines are subject to change.
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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.
