Main Street Program

Based in historic preservation, this approach focuses on retaining and restoring the historic integrity of main streets, and has proved a powerful economic development tool by directing investment toward historic downtown centers. A program focused on revitalizing a community's main street capitalizes on a community's unique assets, helping to generate community pride.

There are four critical elements to developing a main street program:
1) organization of downtown businesses and coordination of efforts and interests,
2) design that enhances visual qualities and historic architecture,
3) main street promotion and marketing, and
4) economic restructuring and business recruitment.

A good resource to learn about becoming a main street community is the New York State Main Street Alliance, a not-for-profit statewide organization dedicated to main street revitalization.