Main Street America

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In 2020 Uptown Greenwood was named as one of only four communities in South Carolina to earn full accreditation in the National Main Street America Program.  As a Main Street America Accredited program, Uptown Greenwood is a recognized program among the national network of more than 1,200 communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

We are also part of the Main Street South Carolina Program offered through the Municipal Association of South Carolina.  This program is a state coordinated program of the National Main Street America program that offers technical assistance to empower communities as they revitalize historic downtowns, encourage economic development and historic preservation. For additional information click here.

Every community and commercial district is different, with its own distinctive assets and sense of place.  The Main Street ApproachTM    offers community-based revitalization initiatives with a practical, adaptable framework for downtown transformation that is easily tailored to local conditions.  The Main Street Approach helps communities get started with revitalization, and grows with them over time.

Main Street Fundamentals

  • The Main Street Approach is centered around Transformation Strategies, which articulate a focused, deliberate path to revitalizing or strengthening a downtown or commercial districts economy.
  • A program's work should be organized around the Four Points : Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion and Organization.
ECONOMIC VITALITY focuses on capital, incentives, and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators that drive local economies.

DESIGN supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart.

PROMOTION positions the downtown or commercial district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics.

ORGANIZATION involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement, and resources for the district.

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