Nationally Recognized, Locally Powered
Main Street Approach
The Main Street Approach® is a unique preservation-based economic development tool that enables communities to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets – from historic, cultural, and architectural resources to local enterprises and community pride.
The success of the Main Street Approach® is based on its comprehensive nature. By carefully integrating four points (Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, and Promotion) into a practical downtown management strategy, a local Main Street program will produce fundamental changes in a community’s economic base. Learn more here:
Main Street 101
As a comprehensive economic development tool, the Main Street Approach® is the foundation many communities in Washington and nationwide use to strengthen their historic downtown and commercial districts. This webinar will provide an orientation to the Main Street Approach® for new board and staff, committee volunteers, and those looking to support their downtown with this proven revitalization strategy.
Main Street Guides
To help local leaders learn about the Main Street Approach and best practices, Washington Main Street, in partnership with Oregon Main Street, created four Main Street Guides geared toward distinct audiences:
- The About Main Street guide is written for anyone wanting to know more about the Main Street Approach™ and how Main Street organizations serve their communities. Also a great tool to orient new volunteers and board members!
- Starting a Main Street is geared toward people who are new to the Main Street Approach™ and want to explore starting a local Main Street organization for their town.
- Board Leadership and Executive Leadership guides are resources for Main Street boards of directors and executive staff that highlight their distinct roles and responsibilities and how they work in symphony.
Each of the guides can be used as a stand-alone resource but offer a comprehensive view of Main Street as a set. The guides are available in Spanish and English. We’ve also created an Online Resource Library that includes sample documents and additional information referenced in the four guides.
View the guides page by page by clicking on the cover image, or download the full English or Spanish PDF documents of each Main Street Guide using the links below the cover images.
Affiliate Services
We provide a slate of on-demand services geared toward Affiliates in the Washington Main Street network. Affiliates are always encouraged to reach out with specific requests for support, but if your downtown revitalization team isn’t sure where to begin we suggest starting with our standard offerings. Click on the link below for more information.
Recovery Action Plan
Washington Main Street and the local programs across the state that make this network what it is have worked hard to creatively and consistently support small businesses and communities.
Among the resources developed by Washington Main Street in 2020 is the Recovery Action Plan. Through a partnership we forged with Main Street Iowa and Oregon Main Street, local leaders from our three states created a flexible work plan, complete with assessment tools, action ideas, and work plan templates for each committee. The Recovery Action Plan is simple – one document, easy to edit, yours to use. To get started:
- Download the document (make sure to save it to your own computer before editing)
- View the team’s roll-out presentation
Historic Preservation
There are many tools available to Main Street professionals and local property owners seeking to learn about and preserve historic properties in Washington State. Learn about the Anatomy of a Main Street Building, Cast Iron Storefront Systems, and Recent Past on Main Street. The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is also your resource for information about incentives, such as the Federal Historic Tax Credits and Special Tax Valuation.
Engage with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Advocacy efforts and other programming, such as our Most Endangered Places List and the Valerie Sivinski Fund.
Historic Property Resource Guide
The Main Street Guide for Property Development compiles resources available to public, private, and nonprofit owners rehabilitating historic buildings in Washington state.
RevitalizeWA
RevitalizeWA is Washington’s annual statewide conference focused on historic preservation and economic revitalization. RevitalizeWA is brought to you by Washington State Main Street Program, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and the Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation.
Excellence on Main
The Excellence On Main Awards are organized by the Washington State Main Street Program to recognize communities, organizations, and individuals who are helping to create sustainable communities and economic vitality in Washington State through downtown revitalization and preservation. Applications by Main Street Communities and Affiliates are accepted starting in February of each year and are awarded at RevitalizeWA later that spring.
Excellence on Main Nomination Form
Questions?
Please contact WMS Director, Breanne Durham at 206-624-9449 or by email.