Enhancing the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of historic downtown business districts in Missouri.
Designated Missouri Main Street communities report economic impact in their districts each quarter. Cumulative totals for the program:
Public and Private INVESTMENT
Net new businesses
Net New jobs
volunteer hours
With the support of AARP, Missouri Main Street Connection Inc. (MMSC) is excited to bring this grant opportunity to your community. AARP is investing in projects that inspire change and improve communities for all ages. We are happy to be partnering with AARP to launch Community Resiliency Projects that will take place in selected Missouri communities. The five selected communities will receive $5,000 each to implement their proposed Community Resiliency Project as well as the opportunity to receive design assistance to make their resiliency project a reality. It is important for small businesses to activate spaces in new ways to meet the changing business climate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The downtown districts chosen for these projects will be accessible for all ages to ensure the entire community can utilize them as well as provide new spaces for small businesses to use.
The history in our communities cannot be replaced once it's gone.
MMSC has space available for off-site training - contact us for details.
We love to Shop Small and support local businesses!
Become a Member
The First Step in comprehensive revitalization of your downtown is to become a member of Missouri Main Street Connection!
"Downtowns are the soul and heartbeat of Missouri cities. They are the foundation and catalyst for growth in communities. The health and condition of downtown infrastructure is the barometer for cities’ futures. Through their programs and technical assistance, the Missouri Main Street Connection program is ready to partner in creating success stories for Missouri’s downtowns."
Dan Ross, Executive Director
Missouri Municipal League
“'Why Main Street?' you might ask. There is simply no more cost effective economic development program of any type, on any scale, anywhere in the country than Main Street… ”
Donovan Rypkema
PlaceEconomics
"Missourians—indeed, all Americans—are returning to our Main Streets. The original walkable and mixed-use neighborhoods are increasingly the choice for living, working, shopping, and recreating. They are big downtowns and small; they are squares and they are corridors. They have classic buildings and existing infrastructure. They represent our past, our present, and a heritage-based future. Investment in Main Streets reduces urban sprawl and encourages those ever-important human “collisions” on the street that foster economic creativity and community pride."
Bob Lewis, Principal
Development Strategies
“Without MO Main Street we never would have been recognized as one of the best downtowns in the nation. Over the past ten years Missouri Main Street Connection has helped us focus and learn best practices needed to implement a successful downtown revitalization plan. The resources they provide have been invaluable to us and having them as a partner makes us a better program.”
Marla Mills, Executive Director
Old Town Cape (Accredited Main Street Organization)