News and Stories

Latest News and Stories

Check out the latest Main Street America news, stories, and announcements. Be sure to subscribe to MSA emails to receive updates delivered directly to your inbox! 

March 18, 2024 | Backing Small Businesses Grantee Q&A: Barbie Behavior Boutique | By: Liz Shenk, Manager of Marketing & Outreach Tylisya Gober, owner of Barbie Behavior Boutique in Oak Park, Mich., used part of her grant funding to host a community event and give out coats to women in her community. Photos submitted by Tylisya Gober. Tylisya Gober, owner of Barbie Behavior Boutique in Oak Park, Mich., was a 2023 Backing Small Businesses grantee. Barbie Behavior is a women’s clothing boutique specializing in celebrity-inspired attire. They received an initial $5,000 grant and a $25,000 Enhancement Grant, given to grantees for an opportunity ...
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March 14, 2024 | Backing Small Businesses Grantee Q&A: Tiffany Fixter, Brewability | Tiffany Fixter, owner of Brewability in Englewood, Co.., used her funding to increase her business‘s visibility and further accessibility efforts. From left to right: Interior of Brewability, business owner Tiffany Fixter, Chris Frederick eating at Brewability with his caregiver Debbie Blair. Photos submitted by Tiffany Fixter. Tiffany Fixter, owner of Brewability in Englewood, Colorado, was a 2023 Backing Small Businesses grantee. Brewability is an inclusive brewery and pizzeria that employs adults with disabilities to brew craft beer. Brewability ...
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March 14, 2024 | Backing Small Businesses Grant Program Now Open | In partnership with American Express, the Backing Small Businesses grant program supports economically vulnerable and under-resourced small businesses with community reach. This year, eligible small business owners can apply for $10,000 grants for projects that grow or improve their businesses by building community, supporting their economic viability, or bolstering meaningful change. Applications will be accepted now through April 7, 2024, at 11:59 pm CT. The application period will end once 5,000 applications have been submitted, even if that occurs before ...
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March 14, 2024 | Staff Spotlight: Reflecting on Equity for Womens History Month | Jackie Swihart, Program Officer | Jackie Swihart with Rosa Pulido, Executive Director of Wenatchee Downtown Association in Washington. After almost two years as a Program Officer at Main Street America, I cannot help but reflect on the fact that most people I meet at local programs across the country are women. These women are amazing—they are leading change in their communities, directing their local development efforts, often volunteering beyond a reasonable level of capacity and expectation. They are often also raising children, working additional ...
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Main Street Now 2024 is Made for Civic Leaders Are you a civic leader looking for solutions to common problems and innovative tools to strengthen your community's social, civic, and economic fabric? If this is you, then make sure to join us in Birmingham, Alabama, May 6-8, for the 2024 Main Street Now Conference ! Register today to join civic leaders and commercial district revitalization professionals from across the country for three days of insightful education sessions, unique special events, immersive mobile workshops, and memorable experiences in the Magic City. With a specially priced registration rate of $199, tailored education ...
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March 13, 2024 | Continuously Improving & Adapting to Change with Nicole Fleetwood and McKinzie Hodges, Scratch Made Bakery In this episode of Main Street Business Insights , Matt sits down with Nicole Fleetwood and McKinzie Hodges, co-owners of Scratch Made Bakery in Amarillo, Texas. Scratch Made Bakery was selected to be featured on the podcast through a nomination from Beth Duke, Executive Director of Center City of Amarillo, an Accredited Main Street organization. Nicole Fleetwood opened the bakery in 2012 on historic Route 66 in downtown Amarillo. She came to Amarillo with her family soon after she had won an episode ...
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March 12, 2024 | Main Spotlight: Main Street America Trainers Provide Training to Over 100,000 Small Businesses, Expanding Efforts in 2024 | By: Liz Shenk, Manager of Marketing & Outreach The team at the 2023 Main Street Now Conference in Boston. From left to right (back row): Main Street Ottumwa (Iowa) Director Fred Zesiger, Oklahoma Coach Jarrod Foster, Main Street Wytheville (Virginia) Director Todd Wolford, Downtown Lewiston Executive Director Jim Zubler, Main Street Wytheville Administrative and Events Coordinator Charlie Jones, and Downtown LaGrange Executive Director Bill Hunnicutt. From left to right (front row): North Carolina Coach Tierra ...
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Ending Soon: Early Bird Rate for Main Street Now 2024! The 2024 Main Street Now Conference is coming to Birmingham, Alabama, May 6-8. Register today and join fellow commercial district revitalization leaders from across the country for three days of insightful education sessions, unique special events, immersive mobile workshops, and memorable experiences in the Magic City. From downtowns in rural places to commercial corridors in cities, the Main Street Now Conference offers time-tested approaches, new techniques, and opportunities to exchange ideas designed to help your team address pressing issues impacting your community. ...
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March 6, 2024 | Main Street Business Insights: Creating Accessible and Welcoming Spaces with Tiffany Fixter, Brewability | By: Liz Shenk, Manager of Marketing & Outreach | In this episode of Main Street Business Insights , Matt sits down with Tiffany Fixter, owner of Brewability , an inclusive craft brewery and pizzeria that employs adults with disabilities based in Englewood, Colorado. In 2023, Brewability was also awarded $30,000 in grant funding through the Backing Small Businesses grant program presented by American Express and Main Street America. Tiffany and her team used the grant funding ...
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March 5, 2024 | Main Spotlight: An Accessibility-First Approach in Downtown Ruston | Amy Stegall, Main Street Director at Ruston Main Street | Downtown Ruston, Louisiana. Photo by Henry McCoy. In the heart of North Louisiana, the city of Ruston has become a beacon of inclusive design. The Louisiana School for the Blind is located within our Main Street district, and this drove us to place accessible design at the forefront of our efforts. The impacts of these changes have been huge in creating a welcoming and inclusive Main Street. The recent Downtown Revitalization project and the ongoing Monroe Street Corridor project exemplify our commitment to ...
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Background image: Downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Credit: Sean Pavone/iStock. Step Up Your Main Street Skills with the 2024 Leadership Development Workshop Join us in Birmingham, Alabama, May 4-5, 2024, for one of Main Street America Institute’s highest rated and recommended workshops! Held in advance of the 2024 Main Street Now Conference, the Leadership Development Workshop empowers revitalization professionals with tools and strategies to connect, motivate, and lead people effectively over an intensive two-day experience. The workshop’s focus on emotional and conversational intelligence will enrich participants’ knowledge base, strengthen their ...
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February 29, 2024, | Program Spotlight: Building a Community Support Network for Rural Entrepreneurs | Tasha Sams, Manager of Education Programs | Meeting with the Missouri Main Street Connection cohort. In 2023, Main Street America and Forward Cities developed and implemented a pilot program focused on creating effective, equitable, and inclusive community support networks for rural entrepreneurs. Working with nine fantastic Main Street Coordinators, the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (E3) in Rural Main Streets Program spans the nation and includes 30 rural communities with both unique and similar challenges. Nine statewide workshops were ...
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February 28, 2024 | Ultimate Immersive Learning Experiences: A Roundup of Main Street Now 2024 Mobile Workshops | Southern Girl Coffee. Credit: The City of Oxford, Alabama This May, Main Street leaders, place managers, and economic development practitioners from across the country will convene in Birmingham, Alabama, for three days of dynamic education sessions, inspiring plenaries, and countless opportunities to celebrate and connect at the 2024 Main Street Now Conference . In addition to 130+ crash course, deep dive, and panel-style sessions, the Main Street Now 2024 agenda includes 18 incredible mobile workshops. These immersive learning experiences ...
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February 28, 2024 | Main Street Business Insights: Why Retail Real Estate Matters with Bobby Boone, &Access | By: Liz Shenk, Manager of Marketing & Outreach | In this episode of Main Street Business Insights , Matt sits down with Bobby Boone, founder and Chief Strategist of &Access . Based in New Orleans, La., &Access creates data-driven and design-centric retail real estate solutions for historically excluded entrepreneurs and under-invested neighborhoods. Bobby has a strong background in economic development and real estate. Prior to founding &Access, Bobby led an effort ...
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February 27, 2024 | Main Spotlight: Main Street America Celebrates Second Annual Hill Day | Michael Jarosz, Coordinator of Government Relations | Representatives from Main Street America and Coordinating Programs gathered in Washington, D.C., for the second annual Hill Day. Earlier this month, folks from Main Street programs across 13 states went to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress for Main Street America’s second annual Hill Day. Participants forged new relationships with policymakers and federal agency leaders, speaking about their Main Street programs, describing the challenges they face, and sharing the successes they’ve seen ...
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February 21, 2024 | Main Street Business Insights: Breaking into a New Community with Jennifer Jones, Good Times Coal Fired Pizza & Pub | By: Liz Shenk, Manager of Marketing & Outreach | In this episode of Main Street Business Insights , Matt sits down with Jennifer Jones, co-owner of Good Times Coal Fired Pizza and Pub in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Located in historic Big Stone Gap Main Street, Good Times is a coal-fired pizzeria and pub, music venue, and community gathering place. In the heart of Appalachian coal country, the coal-fired pizzeria also nods to the area’s unique heritage and geography. ...
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Dedication of Nautical Neighbors stained glass mural in Oceanside, California. Courtesy: Main Street Oceanside. Friendly Reminder to Take the 2024 Main Street Trends Survey! The Trends Survey is our annual call for information and insights about you, your organization, and your community. The results will inform our advocacy work, shape our programming, and help us tell a richer story about the Main Street America network. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and will close on Friday, March 1. Click here to take the survey > If you've already completed the survey: Thank you so much! We have ...
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February 19, 2024 | Announcing the GM on Main Street Grant Program Recipients | By: Liz Shenk, Manager of Marketing & Outreach | From left to right, the 2024 GM on Main Street grant recipient locations: Holly, Mich.; Pontiac, Mich.; Hapeville, Ga.; Bowling Green, Ky. The GM on Main Street Grant Program has awarded five $50,000 grants to nonprofit organizations and municipal government entities near GM facilities, including four Main Street programs, to implement innovative placemaking initiatives in their local districts. Last year, the program awarded six $25,000 grants – see the list of grantees here. Made possible ...
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Thursday, February 15 | Watch: How Delta Dirt Distillery is Adding Spirit to Main Street Helena, Arkansas | By: Liz Shenk, Manager of Marketing & Outreach Harvey Williams, owner of Helena's Delta Dirt Distillery in Helena, Arkansas. Photo provided by Delta Dirt Distillery. This week, we’re celebrating both National Entrepreneurship Week and Black History Month by sharing the story of Harvey Williams, co-founder and CEO of Delta Dirt Distillery in Main Street Helena of Main Street Arkansas . Delta Dirt is the only Black-owned farm-to-bottled distillery in the United States. In this video, you’ll learn more ...
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February 15, 2024 | Community Spotlight: Valentines Murals in Little Five Points | Reid Koski, Main Street Coordinator for Little Five Points | A couple poses in front of the Valentine's mural in Little Five Points. Photo courtesy of Little Five Points Business Association. Each year, Little Five Points in Atlanta, Georgia, invites the community to celebrate Valentine's Day in style with their Valentine's Murals promotion. Community members can pay to have initials, names, or other romantic messages added to a large mural in the district. All funds support the work of the Little Five Points Business Association. We spoke to Reid Koski, Main Street ...
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