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Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams
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Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.
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Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
The AARP Community Challenge program gives out quick-action grants to activate public spaces and build momentum for local change. This program is a great opportunity for many Main Streets, and this year, eight Main Street programs were awarded grants. Here are some of their projects.
DTPlays is an electric cargo bike that will carry a variety of outdoor games, chairs, shade tent, water station and more to Cherie Buckner-Webb Park in Downtown Boise. ““We’re so very excited to bring a new activation to our downtown that invites everyone to PLAY,” said Jenn Hensley, Executive Director at Downtown Boise Association. Throughout the summer, community members of all ages will be able to meet, socialize, and engage in fun activities together in a beautiful park setting in the heart of the city using the supplies transported with the bike. “These free pop-ups are our answer to responses received from Treasure Valley residents through a 2021 survey asking for more family-friendly, free fun during daytime hours,” said Hensley. “What’s more fun than hula hoops, bubbles, yard games, and hands-on activities in the park?!” This environmentally friendly micro-mobility solution will engage the community while promoting sustainability.
Metuchen will transform two parking spots in their downtown center into a parklet with planters, benches, and a beautiful mosaic table. “AARP was the earliest and most constant supporters of downtown revitalization in Metuchen,” said Eric Berger, Metuchen Downtown Alliance Chairman. “Even more important than the money is association with AARP and their important work to make places livable for people of all ages.”
Silver City will use their AARP Funds to install interpretive panels along the sidewalks on Yankie Street. Summer “monsoon” rains often transform the street into “Yankie Creek,” and these historic rains also created Big Ditch Park. As a result of these frequent floods, the sidewalks are elevated to keep them above water. New residents and tourists often ask, “Why are the sidewalks so high?” This interpretive project will answer that question and provide activities that encourage use and exploration into the Big Ditch Park. The installation will also include locally popular games to engage all generations in social activity and access to the Big Ditch Park. “We are thrilled to receive this funding that will create a fun, engaging public space for residents and visitors of all ages,” said Charmeine Wait, Executive Director at Silver City MainStreet.
Carlsbad MainStreet will upgrade their downtown pedestrian crossings. The crossing lines will be refreshed and repainted. Many events are held in the downtown district and this will enhance the streets and improve accessibility. “Thank you to AARP for your support of our community, this allows new opportunities for economic vitality and growth,” said Eyenid Manzo, Carlsbad MainStreet Assistant Director.
Opelika Main Street is utilizing the AARP Community Challenge grant funds to install a new outdoor game station. A placemaking project, this game station will help bring life to an underutilized public space within our downtown while also providing a space for families to enjoy. "We truly appreciate AARP's continued support of Opelika Main Street," said Opelika Main Street Executive Director Ken Ward. "Downtowns are the heart of the community and the AARP Community Challenge grant funds will help us provide a fun game station that all families in our community can enjoy!"
The Heart of Lebanon’s project will assist seniors with attending downtown events by providing items including folding chairs, umbrellas, and canes. With these items provided at the event, seniors will not need to carry them from their vehicle or return to their vehicle to retrieve the item if they need it. These items will be centrally located within the event space on a cart called The Helping Hub Station. “Our goal was to make our downtown more inclusive and meet the needs of older, mobility-challenged residents,” said Missy Krulik, Executive Director at Heart of Lebanon. “We hope that this project demonstrates to our seniors that they are valued members of our community and Main Street.”
Congratulations to Monroeville Main Street and Main Street Blytheville who were also awarded AARP Community Challenge Grants!
REV Birmingham and Woodlawn United share how they work to reenergize spaces and places in Birmingham, Alabama, through civic infrastructure projects in the city’s historic commercial corridors.
Learn how this Louisiana town has used an accessibility-first approach to build a welcoming and inclusive community.
Downtown Ruston, Louisiana. Photo by Henry McCoy.
Learn how the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta uses this unique mural program to celebrate Valentine's Day and raise important funding for their work.
Learn how micromobility can increase access, equity, and inclusion in your Main Street with examples from local programs across the network.
This Washington Main Street is encouraging people to brave the rainy weather with their free umbrella share program.
Parking is a challenging problem for many Main Streets. We explored the arguments for and against free parking, and a method for conducting an inventory of parking in your downtown.
Miami, FL © Matt Alaniz
Learn how Bainbridge Island Downtown Association leverages their connection to the ferry to create a walkable and vibrant downtown.
Bainbridge Island, WA © Anna Carson
An innovative artistic project brings new life to the alleyways in Billings, Montana.
Billings, MT © Downtown Billings Alliance
In big cities and small towns, people face increasing danger when navigating communities on foot. As advocates for connected and walkable downtowns, Main Streets have a crucial role to play in increasing pedestrian safety.
Lansing, Michigan © Lansing 5:01
Learn how you can participate in the Thriving Communities program as a capacity builder or how you can receive support from the program.
To celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month, we explored three innovative and interesting parks-based projects and collaborations in Main Street communities.
Waterloo, Iowa, shares advice and lessons learned from their e-scooter program.
Learn how you can harness design principles and strategies to create a cooler, more welcoming downtown.
Main Street America was awarded $5.9 million to support 20 communities in the Main Streets Community of Practice through the Department of Transportation's Thriving Communities Program over the next two years.
The City of Leeds, AL welcomed a new downtown mural over the holidays that has brought a sense of excitement and anticipation for the continuing efforts to focus on the Leeds downtown district.
Leeds, AL © Jeremy Dove
What is more Iowan than turning grain bins into public art? Learn how Main Street Coon Rapids created these beautiful murals to celebrate their downtown.
Coon Rapids, IA © Main Street Coon Rapids
Pollinator gardens are fantastic ways to increase green space, promote sustainability, and educate your community on the local environment.
Crofton, MD © Kerry Kelly
Learn how these outdoor microspaces can contribute to more vibrancy in our public spaces.
Chairman Emeritus Ed McMahon explores the power of place in creating spaces people love.
Boise, ID © christiannafzger
To support Georgia Main Streets throughout the recovery process and position them for long-term sustainability, Main Street America launched the Georgia Main Street Innovation Grant Program, made possible through generous support from The Williams Family Foundation of Georgia.
Thomasville, GA © Thomasville Main Street
Intentional placemaking has had many unexpected benefits for this Alabama town.
Wetumpka, AL © Jenny Sue Stubbs
We heard from organizations across the nation about the incredible impact their markets have had on community engagement, entrepreneur and small business support, and keeping their district vibrant.
Appealing to mobility-challenged shoppers yields benefits beyond the store.
In contrast, the Main Street Program in Laramie, Wyoming, is thriving, having successfully cultivated millions of dollars to help fill these vacant, blighted spaces with permanent structures.
In this article we’ll explore the process of planning, funding, installing, operating, and enjoying music on your Main Street.
In 2016, the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center partnered with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Department of Interior Architecture (UNCG) to provide design assistance to Main Street communities.
Placemaking is a strategy that Six Corners Association has enthusiastically applied to our community development efforts because of its seamless integration with the Main Street Approach.
How one Wyoming Main Street implemented a free bike share program.
In 2015, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) partnered with the University of Wisconsin–Madison to engage Wisconsin Main Street organizations and farmers markets in the Metrics and Indicators for Impact – Farmers Markets (MIFI-FM) toolkit.
The local Main Street organization, Downtown Milford Inc., is trying to address these shifting demographics by creating a more inclusive sense of community.
This is the story of how a National Endowment for the Arts gathering in DC inspired the leaders of a small town in Appalachia to connect with those in Milwaukee to transform a neglected park.
Main Street communities across the country are no stranger to seeking creative strategies to solve their most nagging issues – vacant buildings, marketing downtown, bolstering retail to name a few.
This article is the second in a series on corridors and the important role they play in Main Street revitalization. The previous article focused on the historic origins of corridors, corridor types, and functions that they serve in our communities.
Façade appearance is a critical aspect of the overall aesthetic appeal and unique character of downtown.
While the Main Street program may not take the lead in corridor enhancements, it can be a vital partner and advocate for improvements in overall community appearance.
Street pole banners preserve the historic character of main streets while fostering community awareness and engagement.
With strong community support, the Library Foundation was able to raise over $1.2 million dollars in private donations.
A lot of signs are necessary to make a downtown work well, but not every community knows what a good sign system looks like, or how instrumental it can be to the creation of a successful downtown.
A key goal of the Atlanta Streetcar is to attract investment to and revitalize the neighborhoods along the streetcar alignment.
