Missouri Main Street

We ❤️ Missouri’s small businesses and so should you! They are not only economic drivers as employers, but they also support community pride by sponsoring local organizations and kids sporting teams. #MainStreetMonday #MainStreetApproach #EconomicVitality

More people downtown mean more eyes on businesses. Events and experiences bring people downtown, which small businesses use to gain new customers. This time of year, chocolate walks and Valentine’s themed experiences are all around, giving ample opportunity to enjoy Missouri’s Main Streets. #MainStreetMonday #MainStreetApproach #Promotion

Delivering assistance and inspiration across Missouri. Gayla Roten, Norma Ramirez de Miess, and Keith Winge met with board members and volunteers in two communities last week: Cape Girardeau and Cameron. These visits help build long-term Main Street success by equipping and training community members in the Main Street methodology for economic and community development. Additionally, we inspired students at Southeast Missouri State University to get involved in their community through Main Street.

New businesses and new jobs come to places that care about themselves. Not in a selfish way, but in a community pride way. We have seen it in communities like Lebanon, which started coming together around the Main Street methodology and used their care for their community to transform downtown. Businesses and people saw this momentum and are flocking downtown to open businesses and shop locally. We think this proves what Joe Borgstrom, @PlaceAndMain, shared during our fall quarterly workshop, “taking care of what you have communicates that you care about your community.”

Hear from Bob Lewis about the growth and success of Missouri Main Street Connection since joining our board in 2012. “We’ve grown, strategically organized, and cultivated an awesome reputation among our communities, state leaders, and national leadership, including other states. We are led by dedicated and experienced people who collaboratively work toward recruiting new people into the Main Street movement and supporting Missouri’s Main Street communities.” -Bob Lewis

Visual appeal leads to an increase in stay time. The longer someone stays downtown the more likely they are to shop. Beautiful Main Streets have an economic benefit. Who knew a planter or mural could have a positive ROI! #MainStreetMonday #MainStreetApproach #Design

Another successful #MainStreetHillDay fostering relationships with members of Congress and their staff with @NatlMainStreet and other Coordinating Main Street Programs. We are thankful to the members of Congress and their staff who met with us and listened to how you can support the success of America through local Main Streets. We look forward to continuing our conversations as we generate jobs, enhance community pride, and support small businesses!

Another successful #PowerOfMainStreet Day sharing Main Street’s impact on Missouri’s small businesses, jobs, and community pride. We had 20 Main Street programs represented with Main Street directors, board members, and city officials meeting with legislators yesterday. We are thankful to the legislators and their staff who met with our network and listened to how they can support the success of Missouri through local Main Streets. We look forward to continuing our conversations as we generate jobs, enhance community pride, and support small businesses!

Partners elevate revitalization! We are thankful for @MOHumanities for being one of our partners over the years. Ben participated in their celebration last week, which showcased all the grantees from 2025. Our Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference attracted just over 400 people to our educational sessions and events with the support of our sponsors and partners. 400 people were inspired to make a local impact through preservation and shopping local.

In 2025, 109 net new businesses were created or moved to Missouri’s Main Street districts. Reducing vacancies and adding unique businesses diversifies the business mix and makes a Main Street district a destination where residents and visitors can eat, shop, and play. #MainStreetMonday #MainStreetApproach # EconomicVitality

Successful and sustainable historic preservation-based economic and community development throughout Missouri is a result of decades of workshops and training hosted by Missouri Main Street Connection. We estimate that over 20,000 people have attended our training since 2006 As we approach our first Quarterly Workshop of 2026 in Lee’s Summit, let’s look back at the places where the Missouri Main Street network converged to learn how to transform their communities. Missouri would not be as vibrant as it is today without MMSC’s continued partnerships that allow Main Street communities to support economic growth, recruit and retain small businesses, and foster community pride

Seeing leads to action. Communities that share about their small businesses and exciting developments in their Main Street district increase the positive image of their community and the number of people who are likely to visit. Walkabout Wednesdays are one initiative that Main Street implement to promote their community as a good place to visit, shop, and eat. #MainStreetMonday #MainStreetApproach #Promotion

Hear from Chris Johnston, our current President of the Board of Directors, about the growth and success of Missouri Main Street Connection since she joining our board in 2017. As she draws near to the end of her term as President of the Board of Directors, she has a positive outlook on what MMSC will continue to achieve. “MMSC has been an unwavering source of assistance and support to Missouri communities, rural and urban. No matter which way the economy rolls or who the governor is, they are positioned to weather the highs and lows, supporting each community that has become part of their strong network.” -Chris Johnston

Since 2006, Main Street volunteers have donated 750,366 hours of their time to support their local community through Main Street. Those hours generated results, including $1.4 billion in public and private investment being cultivated, 1,443 net new jobs being welcomed, and 6,207 net new jobs being welcomed. The Main Street model of having a working Board of Directors is successful. #MainStreetMonday #MainStreetApproach #Organization

12 staff and 55+ Main Street communities are the result of decades of collaboration between the State of Missouri and Missouri Main Street Connection. As we prepare for this year’s Main Street Capitol Day at Jefferson City, we remember all the people who have helped the Main Street movement, including Missouri legislators who started the pilot program in 1989, Gayla Roten who was inspired by the pilot program and networked with other community leaders, and countless others. We are excited to continue strengthening Missouri’s Main Streets with historic preservation based economic development through our partnership with the State of Missouri. As a result, Main Street communities will continue to grow economically, recruit and retain small businesses, and foster community pride.

Main Street provides solutions! By using aesthetics to create places people want to live, work, shop, and invest in, Main Streets attract residents and generate wealth opportunities (@APA_Planning and @StrongTowns) This comes in the form of renovated storefronts and streetscapes, beautiful planters, and more. #MainStreetMonday #MainStreetApproach #Design

Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) is turning 20! What an accomplishment. Having a leading statewide nonprofit organization devoted to preservation-based economic development has created countless new jobs, preserved many buildings, recruited and retained small businesses in historic commercial districts across the state, and much more! MMSC has a year full of celebrations planned and we want you to get excited with us for our announcement press release.

Missouri Main Street programs work year-round to support hundreds of small businesses and leverage millions in private reinvestment to strengthen local economies, one storefront at a time. The work of Main Street volunteers and staff translates into new jobs, restored and occupied buildings, and active downtowns. #MainStreetMonday #MainStreetApproach #EconomicVitality

As MMSC continues its 20-year impact, we see successful Main Street boards with a balanced composition of the 4 W’s: Wisdom, Worker, Worrier, and Wealth. Learn how each W strengthens decision-making, implementation, and stewardship for downtown revitalization. #FactFriday

Simple ideas created a real impact that gained national attention! In Carrollton, My Hometown Carrollton partnered with the City and Street Department to paint new downtown crosswalks that slowed vehicle traffic and improved pedestrian safety. This project was supported with an @AmericaWalks grant.