Our History

Main Street Alabama History

Main Street Alabama began in 2009 and incorporated in 2010 to serve as state coordinator of the Main Street program. It follows a 40-year-old model for community revitalization that has seen great success nationwide.

A nonprofit organization, Main Street Alabama stresses public-private partnerships, broad community engagement, and strategies that create jobs, spark new investment, attract visitors, and spur growth. Main Street builds on the authentic history, culture, and attributes of specific places, to bring sustainable change.

Prior to the establishment of Main Street Alabama, the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) served as the state Main Street coordinating program, providing guidance, support, services, and certification to participating communities. The AHC program existed from the 1980s until state budget cuts in 2003 - 2004 resulted in the loss of Main Street staff and funding at the state level. In early 2009, the AHC contracted with the National Main Street Center to assess the need for and support for a revitalized statewide Main Street Coordinating program. The goal was to re-establish a stronger program that could match the investment and success of neighboring state Main Street programs.

As part of the 2009 assessment, a Steering Committee and a group of Partners provided guidance and direction to ensure that the rebuilt state Main Street was rooted in Alabama realities and positioned to collaborate with other programs that also assist community revitalization.

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Quick Facts

Main Street is a proven strategy for revitalization.

Main Street is a unique preservation based economic development program.

For every dollar Alabama puts into the Main Street program, $13.36 is paid back to state coffers in sales taxes.

Our Main Streets are places of shared memory where people still come together to live, work and play.

Main Streets are prominent employment centers

Our Main Streets tell us who we are, who we were and how the past has shaped us.

From 2014-2023, Main Street Alabama communities reported a cumulative total of 4,530 net new jobs.

Main Street Alabama was launched in 2013.

Main Streets help keep profits in town

Main Street is a powerful network of linked communities.

The Main Street Approach is an important economic development tool for historic preservation in Alabama.

From 2014-2023, over $1 billion in public and private money was invested in Alabama's Main Street districts.

Property investment in Main Street districts, from 2014-2023, generated $35 million in taxes for Alabama's state and local governments.