NEW YORK—Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 40 years. The organization which helps local communities and businesses in these efforts, puts on workshops, special events, virtual and live, annual conferences, and other initiatives that can help small and independent businesses learn and thrive. Organizations, companies and individuals can join and become a member to participate in various ways. Main Street America just recently announced the 2024 Great American Main Street Award semifinalists. Is your town among them? 

These are eight Main Street America communities across the country. A national jury of industry professionals and local leaders in the fields of economic development and historic preservation evaluated 17 applications from Main Street programs working across the country in communities of all sizes. After thoughtful consideration and deliberation, these eight organizations are being recognized as semifinalist for the prestigious Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) for excellence in fostering preservation-based revitalization efforts in their historic downtowns and commercial corridor districts through the group’s trademarked Main Street Approach.

“The Great American Main Street Award is the highest honor that we grant to organizations within our network,” said Matt Wagner, chief program officer at Main Street America. “We are elated to recognize these eight Main Street organizations as 2024 GAMSA Semifinalists for their incredible accomplishments in transforming their downtowns through innovative programs strategically designed to preserve their unique heritage, foster economic vitality, and create a welcoming atmosphere.”  

From neighborhood commercial corridors within larger cities to small towns with traditional downtowns, the 2024 GAMSA Semifinalists represent the diversity of the Main Street America network and the power of the Main Street Approach. Semifinalists have generated over $1.48 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 881 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 3,827 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 2,164 historic buildings, and leveraged 306,986 volunteer hours.

The winners of the 2024 Great American Main Street Award will be announced on May 6, 2024 during the opening plenary session of the 2024 Main Street Now Conference in Birmingham, Ala.