This year’s semifinalists demonstrate exceptional achievements in reenergizing their downtowns through inclusive, collaborative organizing and innovative economic development, arts and culture, and historic preservation initiatives. The 2025 Great American Main Street Award semifinalists are:
Berlin Main Street – Berlin, Maryland
Denison Main Street – Denison, Texas
Easton Main Street Initiative – Easton, Pennsylvania
Main Street Farmington – Farmington, Oakland County, Michigan
Jefferson Matters – Jefferson, Iowa
Raton MainStreet/Arts & Culture District – Raton, New Mexico
Vicksburg Main Street Program – Vicksburg, Mississippi
Downtown Wytheville Inc. – Wytheville, Virginia
A national jury of industry professionals and local leaders evaluated applications from Main Street programs working across the country. After careful consideration and deliberation, these eight organizations have been selected as semifinalists 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™.
Collectively, the 2025 GAMSA semifinalists have generated over $695 million in local reinvestment, helped open 975 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 7,190 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 1,568 historic buildings, and leveraged 333,050 volunteer hours.
Competing for the Great American Main Street Award is a significant achievement in the Main Street Movement, and receiving the award is an esteemed honor. Since its establishment in 1995, only 112 of over 2000 Main Street programs have been acknowledged as GAMSA-winning communities. Many Main Street programs create multi-year plans to develop a strong application based on outcomes that have made meaningful impacts in their local communities. Organizations are familiar with the selection criteria — strength of the Main Street program in spurring community transformation, commitment to historic preservation, innovative programming, implementation of cross-sector partnerships, community outreach and stakeholder engagement, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion — and build towards this opportunity to be recognized.
Keep reading to learn more about each organization and stay tuned to our social channels for semifinalist shout outs! Make sure to save the date for the award ceremony on April 7 during the opening plenary of the 2025 Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where three semifinalists will be recognized as 2025 Great American Main Street Award recipients.