Main Street Program

Main Street is a comprehensive, community-based revitalization approach, developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980. Communities across the U.S. apply its four key components with great success:

Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets such as historic buildings and the traditional downtown layout is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere can be created through window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping; good design conveys a visual message about what Main Street is and what it has to offer.

Promotion means selling the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects. By marketing the district's unique characteristics through advertising, retail promotional activities, special events, and marketing campaigns an effective promotion strategy forges a positive image to shoppers, investors, new businesses and visitors.

Organization means getting everyone working towards common goals. The common-sense formula of a volunteer-driven program and an organizational structure of board and committees assisting professional management can ease the difficult work of building consensus and cooperation among the varied groups that have a stake in the district.

Economic Restructuring means finding new or better purposes for Main Street enterprises. Helping existing downtown businesses expand and recruiting new ones, a successful Main Street converts unused space into productive property and sharpens the competitiveness of its businesses.

Pennsylvania's Main Street program is one piece of the dynamic community and economic development strategies of Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The success of the Main Street program over the last 20+ years has helped keep downtown revitalization a priority for DCED in their efforts to support and build the Commonwealth's diverse communities.

The five-year program encourages revitalization by leveraging private dollars and requiring ongoing, local support evidenced by the establishment of an organization and documented financial commitment from the community. Program guidelines are available by calling the DCED regional contact (click here for listing) or PDC at 717-233-4675. The Single Application for Assistance can be accessed on the DCED website.