About & History
We are a Main Street America® Coordinating Program.
Main Street is a comprehensive, community-based approach to revitalizing downtowns and central business districts, which has been applied across the United States since the early ’80s.
The Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) is a Main Street America® Coordinating Program and provides technical assistance, board and committee support and education to designated programs while the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) provides access to funding opportunities and oversight of designated Main Street and Elm Street Programs in Pennsylvania
As a Main Street America® Coordinating Program, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center is part of a powerful, grassroots network consisting of over 40 Coordinating Programs and over 1,200 neighborhoods and communities across the country committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.
Frequently Asked Questions
The National Trust Main Street Center offers a variety of publications, audiovisual materials, and software to help guide your local revitalization efforts. It also sponsors a national conference that offers excellent training opportunities. Through its membership program, you can network with other organizations and learn from other Main Street communities’ experiences, so you won’t have to “reinvent the wheel.” The Center also provides direct technical assistance on a fee-for-service basis.
Your Main Street’s revitalization starts with you! Main Street programs around the nation are started by ordinary, concerned citizens who work with others in the community to reach a common goal. To get started, gather as much information as possible and spark interest among community groups that have a stake in the future of your commercial corridor: local government, chamber of commerce, historic preservation groups, etc. Put together a task force to plan the next steps. Contact your statewide Main Street organization to learn the process for applying in your state. If there are other local Main Street organizations nearby, talk to them about their successes and challenges. If there is an active downtown organization in your community, join it and present your ideas on preservation-based revitalization. See Getting Started for more.
No. Financial support for the program comes from the local entities that have a stake in the downtown: city government, merchants, businesses, and the public. The success of the Main Street program over the years lies in the fact that it is a local initiative, both organizationally and financially. When there is local buy-in, people care more about the success of the program and become more involved.
Commercial revitalization is an ongoing process. Just as shopping centers and malls have full-time staff that work constantly to ensure proper leasing, management, and marketing, downtown and neighborhood commercial districts need ongoing attention, too. To ensure continuing economic success, Main Street programs are ongoing.
Assistance is available in the forms of technical services, networking, training, and information. The Center can provide direct fee-for-service technical assistance to cities and towns, both independently and in conjunction with state and citywide Main Street programs. Statewide and citywide coordinating programs also provide these types of assistance.
Some states do not have coordinating Main Street programs. If you check the statewide listing (at National Network) and find no statewide program, you can still initiate your own independent Main Street organization. We can help you network with other independent programs and nearby statewide program networks.
In many cases, the National Trust Main Street Center works directly with a state or citywide Main Street program to provide technical assistance to a limited number of designated communities. However, the Center also works directly with individual cities and towns, depending on a community’s needs and staff availability. The Center works on a fee-for-services basis. As always, we encourage communities to begin their own Main Street programs locally, whether or not they can afford the Center’s services. Our extensive catalog of books and materials can be of great assistance to start-up and ongoing programs.
No. Although the terminology is similar, they are two different processes. The Center offers the National Main Street Network Membership as a service in order to provide information and benefits to any individual, agency, or organization interested in preservation-based commercial district revitalization. For an annual subscription of $195 members receive a monthly newsletter, access to member’s only information, and other benefits. Being designated as a Main Street program by a statewide or citywide Main Street coordinating program is a completely different process, which requires an application to that coordinating organization. In order to call yourself a Main Street organization in most states, you must be designated by the statewide program. In states without statewide organizations, communities may self-initiate an independent program.
Yes. You can encourage local leaders, planning agencies, economic development agencies, city government, businesses, and individuals to apply the Main Street approach to what they are doing now. Persuade them to view traditional commercial buildings as an asset to your community and to see the downtown or neighborhood commercial district as an area full of opportunity to renew your community’s sense of identity, history, and place. You can also view case studies in our resources section and bring them to the attention of community leaders.
More About Main Street
The Pennsylvania Main Street Program, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development and supported by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, is a comprehensive, community-driven approach to revitalizing and strengthening the economic vitality of downtowns and central business districts across the Commonwealth. By providing training, technical assistance, and resources, the program empowers local communities to create thriving, vibrant, and sustainable commercial cores that serve as the heart of their neighborhoods. Through a focus on economic development, historic preservation, and community engagement, the Main Street Program helps communities leverage their unique assets, attract new businesses, create jobs, and foster a sense of place that enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
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How the Main Street Program Works
The Main Street Approach is a community-driven, comprehensive strategy used to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts throughout the United States. It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional business districts.
DESIGN
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
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
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 VITALITY
Economic Vitality 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.
For communities or organizations interested in following the Main Street or Elm Street model or for questions about state designated Main Street or Elm Street programs, please contact PA Downtown Center staff.
HOW PDC CAN HELP
PA Downtown Center can assist with the following aspects as outlined in the Keystone Communities Program Designation Application Requirements:
- Five-Year Strategy
- Organizational Sustainability Plan
- Market Assessment and Image Development Reports
- Historic Preservation – sample resolution
PA DCED Main Street Matters Programs
MAIN STREET DESIGNATIONS
- Downtown Bedford Inc.
- Greater Easton Development Partnership
- Greater Honesdale Partnership
- MainSpring of Ephrata
- Quakertown Alive!
- Diamond City Partnership (Wilkes Barre)
- Lewisburg Downtown Partnership
- Perry County Economic Development Authority
- NeighborWorks NEPA-West Scranton
- NeighborWorks NEPA-Pine Brook
- Lewisburg Downtown Partnership
- Hill District CDC
- City Ave District
- Main Street Gettysburg
Become a Member and Strengthen Your Community
Join the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and access a wide range of resources and support to help your community flourish. As a member, you’ll enjoy discounted services, stay informed about funding opportunities, and connect with a statewide network of dedicated professionals working to revitalize Pennsylvania’s downtowns and neighborhoods.