Maryland Main Street Program

Maryland Main Street Program is sponsored by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Supports the revitalization of historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through technical assistance and financial incentives.

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Main Street Maryland Program ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​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.

Looking to visit one of our designated communities? Explore Destination Main Street 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 To learn more about the impact Main Streets have across the State, check out our most recent annual report: 2025 Main Street Maryland Impact Report Main Street Maryland Conference The Main Street Maryland Program hosts a two-day conference each year.

In 2026, the conference will be held on October 6-7 in Hagerstown, Maryland. For more information, please visit the conference website​ . Registration will open in June 2026.

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.

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: Uses funding, incentives, and other tools to: Support new and existing businesses Start property redevelopment Create a strong environment for local entrepreneurs and innovators Helps transform the community by: Enhancing physical and visual features Highlighting what makes the commercial district unique Strengthens the identity of the district by: Positioning it as the community's center Making it the focal point of economic activity Builds a strong foundation for sustainable revitalization by: Providing resources for the district's growth Maryland expanded Main Street America's approach to include an additional principle.

Improves the neighborhood image through Smart Growth and sustainability by: Focusing on practices that conserve resources and support long-term growth Creating vibrant spaces that help deter crime 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: 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. How to Become a Main Street Maryland Community The process includes an application to the appropriate tier (Connected, Aspiring, Designated) matching the community’s readiness and acceptance by the Main Street Maryland program. Typically the application process opens annually in late Spring.

If you're interested in applying, we recommend the following steps: Check if your community is ready 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. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ​ for quick answers to common questions.

Program Contact: Kristin Dawson, Project Manager Division of Neighborhood Revitalization Main Street Maryland News The current browser does not support Web pages that contain the IFRAME element. To use this Web Part, you must use a browser that supports this element, such as Internet Explorer 7. 0 or later.

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