Pennsylvania’s Main Streets through the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted local economies and the day-to-day lives of people in communities across the country and world. Businesses and their customers navigated challenging health and safety protocols that altered how people shopped, dined, and socialized. Businesses of all sizes and in all types of communities were forced to adjust their operations in response to changing regulations, consumer preferences, and safety measures starting with the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. The purpose of this study is to help the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and its stakeholders understand how the pandemic impacted Pennsylvania’s downtown business districts. Importantly, this study assesses the role that Main Street programs played in supporting local businesses during this challenging period and measure the impact of Main Street programming and support services on local economic resiliency.
