About
Main Street America leads a collaborative movement that advances shared prosperity, creates resilient economies, and improves quality of life through place-based economic development in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Founded in 1980 as the National Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the organization today works with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders in a network of more than 2,000 communities across the United States.
Mission
Main Street America champions the vision that Main Streets are for everyone: inclusive, economically thriving commercial districts with distinctive local character and diverse businesses. Its work centers on revitalizing older and historic downtowns and commercial corridors as engines of community and economic vitality.
What they do
- Main Street Approach: the organization's signature framework for comprehensive, community-driven commercial district revitalization.
- Field services and technical assistance for communities and coordinating partners.
- Professional development through the Main Street America Academy.
- Small business support, grants, and funding programs for local districts and entrepreneurs.
- The annual Main Street Now Conference, which convenes the national network.
- Network programs including Main Street Communities, Collective Impact initiatives, and Main Street 250.
History
Main Street America was founded in 1980 as the National Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and has led the Main Street movement for more than four decades. The organization's legal name remains National Main Street Center, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and it now operates under the Main Street America brand.
Scale and impact
Main Street America reports the following cumulative impact across its network of over 2,000 communities since 1980:
- Over $115.27 billion in local reinvestment generated
- 345,801 buildings rehabilitated
- 815,894 new jobs created
- 181,647 new businesses started
Financials
According to ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer, National Main Street Center Inc. (EIN 46-1405965) is a 501(c)(3) organization that reported total revenue of $17,703,800, total expenses of $19,357,778, and total assets of $12,213,643 for fiscal year 2025. The IRS issued its tax exemption ruling in December 2014.