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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We can't wait to see you in Birmingham, Alabama, for the 2024 Main Street Now Conference from May 6 - 8!
Save the date to join fellow commercial district revitalization leaders from across the country for three days of education sessions, special events, mobile workshops, and opportunities to explore "The Magic City." From downtowns in rural places to commercial corridors in cities, the Main Street Now Conference offers time-tested approaches and new techniques to address pressing issues to help your community thrive.
Location & Lodging
Conference accommodations and sessions will take place at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and Westin Birmingham Hotel. Reservations for attendees are scheduled to open in January 2024. Please visit the conference website for more information about rates and making reservations.
Registration Rates
Conference registration is available to commercial district revitalization practitioners, civic leaders, and students. Registration is expected to open in January 2024. Please see below for registration rates and deadlines.
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
Experiences Await
Conference Sessions
The 2024 itinerary will feature engaging sessions, inspirational keynote speakers, immersive mobile workshops, and more exploring perennial downtown and commercial district management techniques guided by the Main Street Approach™ and the conference's three themes: Welcoming & Belonging, Connectivity through Civic Infrastructure, and Reimagining Local Spaces & Economies. Learn more about this year's themes >
Explore Birmingham
Between sessions, enjoy local shops, eateries, and attractions in downtown Birmingham and the Historic 4th Avenue Business District. Come early or extend your stay to explore dynamic Main Streets in nearby towns and the city’s vibrant arts, culture, and heritage, from historic architecture to monuments dedicated to the American Civil Rights Movement, metalwork manufacturing industry, and music icons. Check out ways to experience Birmingham >
Partnership Opportunities
Sponsorship
Sponsoring the Main Street Now Conference is a highly visible, cost-effective way to reach community leaders and partners as they foster new ideas and solutions for preservation-based revitalization. Sponsor packages provide partners with the opportunity to demonstrate leadership through programming and promotions, connect directly with local decisionmakers, and support communities on their path to economic revitalization. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities >
Exhibition Hall
The Main Street Now Expo offers a variety of promotional opportunities for companies specializing in products, services, and resources designed to assist downtown and commercial district management professionals take their revitalization efforts to the next level. Details about booth spaces, pricing, benefits, and opportunities are now available on our website. Booth registration is expected to open in January 2024. Learn more about exhibitor opportunities >
Watch: See you INBirmingham!
Conference Co-Hosts
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Questions? Email info@mainstreet.org
Images and video courtesy of Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau and Main Street Alabama.
*Deadlines are subject to change.
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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.
