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
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.
For more information, visit the
conference website hosted by our partners at Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA).
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 funding, incentives, and 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.
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.
Connected Main Streets are commercial neighborhood districts. They are not yet eligible for designation under the Main Street Maryland program. They want to use one or more pillars of the Main Street Approach to improve their community's economy.
To learn more, visit the
Main Street Maryland website.
How to Become a Main Street Maryland Community
The process includes an application and acceptance by the Main Street Maryland program. The application process will reopen in May 2026.
If you're interested in applying, we recommend the following steps:
- Check if your community is ready
- Learn about the
Main Street Approach
- Build support from local leaders and community members
- Visit existing Main Street communities
- Set goals for the program
Once you’ve done this, Main Street Maryland staff would like to hear from you. See our contact information below.
Check the program's
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for quick answers to common questions.
