Great American Main Street Award

Recognizing communities exemplifying the use of the Main Street Approach to revitalize traditional downtowns and neighborhood business districts.

Laramie GAMSA2022

Exceptional Main Streets

Each year, Main Street America recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive, preservation-based commercial district revitalization with the Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). Since the award’s inception in 1995, over 100 Main Street programs have been honored.

The application period for the 2023 Great American Main Street Awards is closed.
Please see below for more information about GAMSA, selection process, and the award ceremony.

2023 GAMSA

Application: Applications are now closed. All Accredited Main Street America programs, with an active Main Street membership and that have not previously won were invited to submit an application for 2023 GAMSA honors via our online portal, from June 22 - August 1, 2022.

Selection Criteria: Winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a jury of Main Street professionals and leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic preservation. Criteria for winning include: strength of the Main Street program in spurring community transformation, commitment to historic preservation, innovative programming, implementation of cross-sector partnerships, community outreach and stakeholder engagement, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Accolades & Ceremony: We look forward to promoting the semi-finalists through our digital channels in the coming months and recognizing the winners at the 2023 Main Street Now Conference in Boston, Massachusetts!

If you have any questions about the Great American Main Street Award, please contact Steve Amraen at 312.610.5609 or gamsa@savingplaces.org.

2023 GAMSA Semifinalists

The applications are in and the national jury of community development professionals has convened, deliberated, and selected the 2023 Great American Main Street Award Semifinalists! Join us in offering heartfelt congratulations to the eight Main Street America communities that are in the running for being recognized for their exemplary use of the Main Street Approach™ to transform their downtowns and neighborhood business districts.

Meet the GAMSA 2023 Semifinalists

GAMSA Winners

Great American Main Street Award winners represent the diversity of communities in the Main Street America network—small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts from every region in the country. Explore GAMSA winning communities:

2022 | Heart of Biddeford

2022 | Hammond Downtown Development District

2022 | Laramie Main Street Alliance

1995 - 2022