Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams
We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.
Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street
Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.
Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America
Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!
Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo
Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.
Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street
Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
.png)
On October 3, 2023, Main Street leaders from across the country convened in the theater of the Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson, Washington, for the first day of the Community Transformation Workshop, offered by the Main Street America Institute (MSAI). With coffee in hand, attendees gathered to ponder a very important question: "What do you want to learn from this workshop?”
Digging into Transformation Strategies was top of mind for many participants. Building community and consensus, understanding and leveraging data, and developing effective solutions were common responses as well. With learning objectives identified, Main Street America staff instructors launched into the curriculum. Over the course of the next two days, these topics served as steadfast anchors, emerging as probing questions, thoughtful theories, and energetic discourse.
Workshop participants were highly engaged in data analysis and transformation strategy work planning exercises, with many asking questions informed by critical analysis of the data generated through census records, economic indicators, and other sources. The big takeaway was that while helpful, numbers don’t tell the whole story. Digging into the data, asking questions, and pairing data reports with information collected through conversations with residents and community members will offer a fuller picture of a district’s challenges and opportunities for growth.
Throughout the two-day workshop, instructors utilized case studies to demonstrate the importance of rooting Transformation Strategies in a Main Street district’s unique circumstances and individual needs. Walkabouts through downtown Stevenson and Vancouver offered an example of this approach in action: two innovative solutions developed in response to addressing the need for enhancing the visitor experience.
In Stevenson, a scenic byway serves as the district’s Main Street, with vehicle traffic moving quickly and in high volume, especially during the busy summer season. To enhance safety and increase accessibility, high visibility pedestrian crossing signs and communal signal flags were installed at crosswalks.
In Vancouver, the Pacific Northwest’s infamous rainy climate can sometimes deter residents and visitors alike from venturing outside of their homes and into local businesses. An umbrella-lending program with borrow/return stations at shops helps keep visitors covered while they shop downtown.
Although each downtown district is distinctly different in their location, size, and character, both Main Street programs are finding solutions rooted in similar principles and tailored to meet the needs of their communities.
After two days of deep dives into data, in-depth discussions, and district exploration—and some time to reflect as they traveled home—what were the biggest takeaways? Here are a few perspectives that participants shared:
“Engagement is a two-way street, and we need to leverage our market data to better engage with our residents. I'll be working with my board to share our local data and examine additional ways to stimulate active engagement with our district beyond surveys.”
“Seeing two starkly different communities and their unique challenges was hugely beneficial in reinforcing that Transformation Strategies are truly unique for every place and that every place has to find their ‘why’ behind Main Street work. What works in one community isn't always going to be relevant for another. We have to use market-informed decision making for maximum success.”
The Community Transformation Workshop is offered annually each fall. For more information about this educational opportunity, click here.
Franklin Bronze Plaques, a Main Street America Allied Member, is this quarter's Main Spotlight advertiser. For more information about the products and services they provide to Main Street organizations, click here >
From interactive self-paced courses and immersive in-person workshops, the Academy offers practical, engaging, and flexible learning experiences designed to help you grow your impact, sharpen your skills, and lead with confidence. We invite you to join us as we embark on this bold new chapter—start exploring the Academy today!
Did you know that many of the staff members at Main Street America have experience working for local Main Street programs? We asked them about their stories and the ways their experiences shape the work they do at the national level.
Join us for encore presentations of attendee-favorite sessions from the 2025 Main Street Now Conference, offering fresh perspectives on the topics that matter most to Main Street leaders.
