Overview

The Montana Main Street Program, established in 2005, is administered by the Community MT Division within the Montana Department of Commerce. As a state coordinating program within the Main Street America network, the Montana Main Street Program awards competitive grant funding to communities focusing on planning and/or implementation projects directly related to downtown revitalization, development, and historic preservation. Using the Main Street Approach to downtown revitalization, the Montana Main Street Program also offers technical assistance to communities striving for economic vitality while maintaining local historic integrity, quality of life, and a sense of place. Such goals are best met by uniting larger community ideas and efforts with program organization, coordination, and resources.

Mission

The Montana Main Street (MMS) program is dedicated to bettering the economic, historic, and cultural vitality of Montana downtowns through community development, revitalization, and historic preservation. MMS fosters grassroots efforts through coordination and technical assistance, focused on a comprehensive approach to restoring healthy community commercial districts and preserving the historic structures that contribute to Montana’s unique sense of place.

Vision

Adopting the Main Street Approach™ to revitalization, Montana Main Street envisions a broader community and state effort dedicated to improving our downtown economies and historic districts. MMS aims to encourage and promote local efforts through a statewide network of educational outreach, coordination, and organization, to effectively lead Main Street communities throughout Montana toward fulfilling our mission as well as their own.

Goals

• Preserve and promote Montana historic and cultural resources.
• Promote long-term planning for revitalization success.
• Organize efforts and coordinate conversations between and within Montana communities.
• Support economic, community, and tourism development to facilitate a comprehensive sense of place.
• Enable small business owners to succeed by creating vibrant and healthy downtown districts.

Program Services

• Main Street Program member communities receive continuous technical assistance from program staff to assist them in achieving programmatic goals.
• Main Street communities are encouraged to attend the annual Montana Downtown Conference and/or the National Main Street Now conference. Depending on available funding, MMS can provide scholarship opportunities to help defray registration and travel costs;
• Montana Main Street staff works with communities on issues of planning and organizational needs assessments;
• Main Street 101 training is provided at the request of communities. Possible topics include quarterly reporting, the Four-Point Approach, and guidance on how to become a nationally Accredited community with Main Street America;
• Annually grant opportunities at a 1:5 match, dependent on funding. Applicants are eligible for grants if they are up to date on quarterly reporting and currently do not have an active grant;
• Access to essential books, articles, and digital resources as well as an opportunity to join the monthly downtown collaborating networking virtual call;
• Use of the Montana Main Street logo for branding, social media, reporting, etc.. 

For more detailed information about the program, please refer to our Montana Main Street Program Guidelines or contact our office to work with one of our team members. For grant information, click here.

As a Main Street America™ Coordinating Program, the Montana Main Street Program is part of a powerful, grassroots network consisting of 45 Coordinating Programs and over 1600 neighborhoods and communities across the country committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.