Main Street America

Main Street America is a national leader in economic development and community revitalization in older and historic commercial districts. We help build more sustainable and equitable communities by lifting up the people and places that make Main Streets thrive. The Main Street program was created as a program of the National Trust in 1980 to combat the harmful impacts of sprawl and the changing nature of retail on the physical character and economies of communities. Today’s Main Street programs serve both rural and urban communities, more than 80% of which are located in low-to-moderate income census tracts. Main Street programs are currently in more than 1,200 communities in 45 states. The program has served more than 2,000 communities since its inception. Our two signature programs – Main Street America and UrbanMain – provide direct support to local leaders in small towns, mid-sized cities, and urban neighborhoods.