2023 Main Street Now Conference - Main Street America

Main Street Now 2023

Boston, Massachusetts | March 27 - 29

The Main Street Now Conference is a one-of-a-kind event, providing attendees with an opportunity to convene and learn about the innovative methods and practices that make the Main Street Approach™ one of the most powerful economic development tools in the nation. Save the date to join fellow commercial district revitalization leaders from across the country for three days of education sessions, special events, field sessions, and opportunities to explore the host city. Whether you come from an urban business district, small rural downtown, or somewhere in between, the Main Street Now Conference offers solutions to common problems and new techniques to help your community thrive.

Get Involved

Along with our partners at Boston Main Streets, we invite proposals for educational sessions at 2023 Main Street Now!

Topics & Guidelines
We invite proposals for educational sessions in three thematic areas (see below for details), as well as perennial downtown and commercial district management topics guided by the Main Street Approach™. The Main Street Now Conference seeks to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). The review committee will prioritize submissions that thoughtfully acknowledge and address DEIA challenges and opportunities, and are reflective of Main Street America’s core values regardless of the proposed topic.

Speaker Benefits

Celebrate your successes and inspire your peers
Gain exposure for your organization
Build your reputation as a trusted voice in the MSA network and an expert in the field
Enjoy a significantly discounted registration for the full conference experience (or a free day pass if only attending your session)

Deadline: Tuesday, September 6, at 11:59 pm CST

Submit Your Proposal

Get Excited

Boston Main Streets' 20 distinct neighborhoods are home to the active and loving communities that make this city vibrant.

The key to enjoying any city is knowing where to go ... and Boston Main Streets has you covered! From East Boston to West Roxbury – and everywhere in between – each district is abuzz with activity and public art, full of history and heritage, home to unique shops and must-try eateries, and more!

Start Exploring

Location

Conference sessions will take place at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, conveniently located near downtown amenities and the airport. Room blocks for attendees will also be available at this hotel. More information about room rates and making reservations will be available in the coming months. Preview the Boston Marriott Copley Place >

Stay in the Know

Details about Conference venues, travel, sessions, partnership opportunities, and registration are in the works! Check this page for updates, or follow Main Street Now on Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to our newsletter, to receive the latest Conference-related news delivered to your inbox.

Conference Themes

Community Wealth Building & Shared Prosperity

Main Street programs and other place-based revitalization organizations have a vital role to play in building community wealth and shared prosperity for every resident. This approach to economic development focuses on strategies to enhance local wealth generation and confers direct benefits for residents and local businesses. By harnessing tools like entrepreneurial ecosystems, community land trusts, cultural expression initiatives, and cooperative business models, Main Streets can create inclusive, sustainable, and equitable economic success in their communities and help ensure future prosperity for populations that have been historically marginalized.

Resilient & Future-focused Main Streets

As designers, planners, and local leaders, Main Street professionals are in a unique position to help communities adapt to meet the difficult realities they’re facing now and in the years to come. From promoting environmental sustainability and green infrastructure to advancing community health initiatives and cross-sector partnerships, building resiliency goes beyond responding to a crisis – it's about building a strong baseline for resilience that will pay dividends in the years to come. Holistic planning practices and strong community connections help prepare us for change, whether planned or unexpected. Sessions will explore the importance of meeting these challenges head-on and the positive economic and organizational impacts created as a result.

Building Community Connections

The success of Main Streets across the country can often be tied to a common thread: they are driven by people. Thriving communities are built from the power of many, with the strongest among them practicing meaningful collaboration, creating shared goals with stakeholders, and valuing inclusive leadership that provides a seat for everyone at the table. To strengthen the connection to place, Main Streets must embrace the variety of lived experiences of people in their community and empower them to make change. Sessions will highlight the power of coalition building and leveraging your greatest asset: people.

Co-Hosts

The Buzz About Main Street Now

Seymour Main Street

"It was an incredible week at the Main Street America conference...There was SO much packed into our short time in Richmond, but each one of us feels inspired and excited to bring best practices and unique solutions to our downtown. Thank you MSA for a wonderful experience, and thank you Indiana Main Street for a great time networking with all the attending Indiana organizations!"

Charles town now

"Another Main Street America conference in the books. The theme was “Together Again” and it did not disappoint. I walked away inspired, encouraged, and hopeful. Over 1000 people came together because they believe in the necessity of a vibrant Main Street. To be in a room with so many people who work so hard to help our small towns and small businesses thrive was empowering."

kyle reynolds

"And just like that, #MainStreetNow2022 in Richmond, VA is in the history books. I’m truly amazed and will cherish the memories made with these fantastic people working to preserve, restore, and uplift their local communities and downtowns all across the country...so looking forward to seeing all of you in Boston for #MainStreeetNow2023! "