Main Street Maryland

Main Street Maryland Program Main_Content ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​ ​​​​​​​​​​About Main Street Maryland​ Main Street Maryland supports community development and revitalization in Maryland’s historic downtowns. The program began in 1998 with three communities and now supports over 50 statewide. They are some of the strongest and most resilient business districts in Maryland. Main Street Maryland is part of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. It serves as the state coordinating program for the National Main Street Center​ a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Main Street Maryland communities commit to: Growing the local economy Improving downtown's appearance Strengthening the image of their traditional business districts Annual Report To learn more about the impact Main Streets have across the State, check out our most recent annual report: 2024 Main Street Maryland Impa​ct Report Main Street Maryland Conference The Main Street Maryland Program hosts a two-day conference each year. The event brings together economic development professionals, community leaders, and Main Street practitioners from across Maryland. They share knowledge, best practices, and inspiring stories. The goals of the conference are to: Inspire: Help attendees get excited and creative through keynote speakers. A mix of ignite presentations and TED Talk-style presentations, and breakout sessions. Educate: Provide useful tips and practical tools to help attendees strengthen their Main Street programs. Network: Support connections and collaboration between attendees. Request for Proposal (RFP) - 2027 Main Street Maryland Conference​ The Main Street Approach The Main Street Approach focuses on community involvement and understanding local needs. It also targets the principles that drive successful downtown and neighborhood revitalization. These four core principles guide the approach: Economic Vitality: Uses other tools to: Support new and existing businesses Start property redevelopment Create a strong environment for local entrepreneurs and innovators Design: Helps transform the community by: Enhancing physical and visual features Highlighting what makes the commercial district unique Promotion: Strengthens the identity of the district by: Positioning it as the community's center Making it the focal point of economic activity Organization: Builds a strong foundation for sustainable revitalization by: Cultivating partnerships Engaging the community Providing resources for the district's growth Maryland expanded Main Street America's approach to include an additional principle. Green: Improves the neighborhood image through Smart Growth and sustainability by: Focusing on practices that conserve resources and support long-term growth Reducing litter Creating vibrant spaces that help deter crime Main Street Maryland Communities The Main Street Maryland Program helps local communities with revitalization efforts. It offers a tiered approach based on the community's readiness and capacity. The tiers are: Designated Main Streets are the top tier, accredited programs with the National Main Street Center​ ​. These communities will use the full Main Street Approach to support long-term, local revitalization. Designated communities show a strong commitment to: Economic development Preserving local historic and cultural resources Building volunteer support and partnerships Raising financial and in-kind support from local government and other partners Aspiring Main Streets want to learn more about becoming a designated Main Street. They complete a two-year training program offered by Main Street Maryland. This helps them build a strong foundation and work toward accreditation with the National Main Street Center.