Main Street America

Have building codes ever presented a challenge when working on a historic property or preservation project? Join The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) and expert presenters for webinars on December 4 & 11 to learn practical lessons when addressing building codes and provisions for historic buildings that offer alternative pathways to success. Learn more and register > https://lnkd.in/eaDQBjZn #historicpreservation #buildingcodes

For Native American Heritage Month, we are sharing the stories of some of the tribal communities we partner with through the US DOT Thriving Communities Program. The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation covers over 2 million acres along the Missouri River, encompassing parts of North and South Dakota and including members of the Dakota and Lakota nations. Sioux people are celebrated for resilience and strategy- especially some of the most known historic battles of the 1800s and modern movements for environmental justice and sovereignty. Through TCP, we’re supporting the tribe’s capacity to implement grants that support transportation safety and infrastructure.

We always love to catch up with our friends in Michigan! The amazing impact of the Main Street Approach across the state continues to inspire us.

"As you embark on your own transformation journey, keep your eyes on the prize, and don’t be afraid to make the tough decisions needed to secure a sustainable future." Learn how to get board buy-in, adjust your work plans, and realign your budget to ensure the success of your new transformation strategy. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ezjmCMAW

During the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, many Main Streets learned about the impact of science programming. Three of them—SoMa 501 Little Rock Inc., City of Mesquite Downtown Development, and Main Street Brookville, Inc.—shared their experiences. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ehQadVRx

We are excited to welcome three new members to the Main Street America Board of Directors! Get to know Lynda Tran, Tyrone Rachal, and Mary Helmer Wirth: https://lnkd.in/g_R7hwca

People are moving further from urban cores, seeking affordability by going beyond the suburbs into the exurbs. For exurban communities, this represents an opportunity to attract new residents with a vibrant local downtown and increased housing opportunities. But for communities closer to urban centers, this exodus is a reminder of the importance of increasing housing access. Read here: https://lnkd.in/e-mc9qsi

Last week I had the honor of speaking to a group of dedicated, talented Main Streeters in Saco- Biddeford, Maine. Thank you Anne Ball Yellow Light Breen Sylvie Piquet Perri Dorset for inviting and welcoming me in Maine. ?? Participants suggested that I share my remarks about the unique and important role Main Streeters can play in our country right now.?Here’s a short preview: First, plan. Let us create stable foundations by pre-planning for emergencies. Make and keep an actual list of all the things that could go wrong for your organization and your community.? Climate disasters. Financial downturns. Funding falling through. Risks to your reputation that could hurt the trust you’ve built. Then make a plan for how you’ll address it. Who will need to be involved? How will you communicate? What resources will you need and where will they come from? Write it down. Share it. And above all, set aside an emergency fund for your organization. The best laid plans won’t go far if there’s not money in place to put them into play when you most need them. Second, Main Streets are for everyone. Let us keep open minds and open hearts to new ideas and new people. A big part of having a stable foundation is having people in your circle who don’t all think the same way. Resilience relies on creativity. Creativity comes from different lived experiences. Without those different perspectives in the room, you don’t know what you don’t know, until it’s too late. Third, let us mend the corner that’s in front of us, and trust that others are mending theirs. We know that we can’t solve everything. But we are the experts on our own communities. We know which kind of business will probably work on what corner, and what kinds of events people will probably show up to. And we have this entire network of folks who are experts in their own communities too. So we build deep trust locally, and we keep on doing what’s working. Then we extend that trust outward, and trust others in our network to mend what’s in front of them. And finally, invest in people and relationships, especially with your volunteers. In the middle of all the bad news and all the disconnection and confusion, it turns out that people are really looking for meaningful connections. Volunteers are the heart and soul of our movement and there’s a tendency to want to make their job as easy as possible. But people who are drawn to this work, to the work of caring for places, tend to be pretty scrappy people. They like to roll up their sleeves and they love a challenge. If they feel truly taken care of, like you trust them to do something hard, they will show up when you need it most.?More on the power of asking volunteers to do hard things from Frances Jo H. : https://lnkd.in/eJJjg_vF

One month left to register for Main Street America's 2025 Hill Day! This is your opportunity to build relationships with federal policymakers and share the importance of the Main Street Approach. Join us on Feb. 4-5 in Washington, D.C., to make an impact. Register here > https://lnkd.in/e4-2xWfV

Climate change has a significant impact on the outdoor recreation economy. How can business owners navigate the shifting weather patterns? And what role can they play in mitigating environmental impacts? This week on Main Street Business Insights, Matthew Wagner, Ph.D., spoke with Dale Sexton, owner of the legendary Dan Bailey’s Outdoor Co. in Livingston, Montana. #smallbiz