This is the largest annual gathering of downtown revitalization professionals held in the US each year. My first Main Street Conference was held in Philadelphia in 2008, weeks after starting as the Main Street manager in Oyster Bay, New York. Early in my career when my family was younger and I changed jobs several times, I missed a few conferences. Starting in 2014, I’ve attended every Main Street Now conference held in person through present day.
Some highlights from my more than a decade of attending the Main Street Now conference follows:
- TOTAL YEARS ATTENDED: 12 of last 17 years (Birmingham, Boston, Richmond, Virtual, Seattle, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Detroit, (break), Chicago, Philadelphia)
- CONSECUTIVE YEARS ATTENDED: 10 years (Birmingham, Boston, Richmond, Virtual, Seattle, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Detroit)
- SESSIONS PRESENTED: 9 sessions
- GREAT AMERICAN MAIN STREET AWARD: 2X Semifinalist (Detroit 2014, Boston 2023), 1X Winner (Boston 2023)
The Opening Plenary session is when the most people are together at any time during the conference. Here is the Opening Plenary held in Richmond, Virginia, 2022.
2026 – Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Advocacy Community of Practice, Main Street Now Conference, Tulsa, Oklahoma (April 2026)
- Community Aid That Supports Local Businesses, Main Street Now Conference, Tulsa, Oklahoma (April 2026)
2025 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A)
2024 – Birmingham, Alabama (A)
2023 – Boston, Massachusetts (A)
- Affordability on Main Street
- Great American Main Street Award Winner
- Main Street America Revitalization Professional certification granted
2022 – Richmond, Virginia (A)
- Lean Start-up Guide to Getting Stuff Done on Main Street
2021 – Virtual (A)
2020 – Dallas, Texas – CANCELLED due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 – Seattle, Washington (A)
- How to Help Your Businesses Win at Marketing
- Catalyst Projects Yield Extraordinary Results for Downtowns
2018 – Kansas City, Missouri (A)
2017 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (A)
2016 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin (A)
- Tactical Urbanism Workshop
- Better Block project highlighted in Opening Plenary Session
- Colleague Mike Lydon featured as a keynote speaker during Closing Plenary
2014 – Detroit, Michigan (A)
- Using Tactical Urbanism to Preserve Downtowns
- Great American Main Street Semifinalist
- Named One to Watch in Opening Plenary Session
2013 – New Orleans, Louisiana
2012 – Baltimore, Maryland
2011 – Des Moines, Iowa
2010 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2008 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A)