Today, Main Street America’s Government Relations team released the organization's first-ever Policy Agenda, a landmark document outlining policy issues and recommendations at the local, state, and federal levels that impact Main Street communities. This agenda is the result of extensive engagement with hundreds of Main Street leaders, including local Main Street Programs, Coordinating Programs, and key stakeholders nationwide.

Main Street America has a strategic vision to be a leading voice in place-based economic development and community preservation. The Policy Agenda ensures that advocacy efforts across the network reflect the priorities of the Main Street movement. The agenda can be used by local Main Street Programs and Coordinating Programs as well as local, state, and federal government leaders to support the needs of Main Street communities. Main Street America will use this agenda to guide our work advocating for Main Street.

The Policy Agenda consists of introductory content, including the background, basics, and history of how Main Streets have long been drivers of economic and community vitality with the support of government partners. The main text of the document presents six key issue areas followed by policy recommendations at the local, state, and federal levels.

The six key issues are:

• Main Street Programs are Public-Private Partners
• Main Streets are Key to Sustainable Community Growth
• Main Streets are Mixed-use Spaces Ripe for Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Reuse
• Main Streets Are the Backbone of the Small Business Economy
• Main Streets are People-Centered Gathering Spaces and Thoroughfares
• Main Streets are Communities of the Future

Main Street America is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.