Main Street America, an inclusive, impact-driven movement dedicated to reenergizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns and neighborhoods, has announced that 1,188 programs have achieved designations as Main Street America programs in recognition of their commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach. The 2024 network of designated Main Street members includes 800 programs that earned accredited status—the organizations’ top designation tier—for demonstrating a proven track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach and exceptional performance in the six standards of community evaluation.

Additionally, 388 programs have received affiliate status for showing a strong commitment to the Main Street model and creating meaningful improvements in their communities.

“We are incredibly excited to celebrate this year’s 1,188 designated Main Street America programs, and their remarkable efforts to reenergize their local economies and public spaces,” said Main Street America president and CEO Erin Barnes. “Main Street leaders are visionaries that see things that no one else can see and they create the future world we all want to live in. The size and impact of our network demonstrates that great things happen when visions are realized through strategic, grassroots collaboration.”

 
In 2023, Main Street America programs generated $5.68 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,630 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 35,162 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,556 historic buildings and leveraged 1,664,763 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, $18.03 of new investment was generated back into their downtown and commercial corridor communities. Learn more about the collective impact of the Main Street Movement here.

Each program’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and their coordinating program, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.