What is Main Street?

Nationally recognized. Locally powered.
St. Paul is one of 25 designated Main Street communities in Virginia. It received this designation in 2011. Main Street communities are competitively selected.

Main Street America™ has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. Today it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Virginia Main Street was the fifteenth state to become part of the program, in 1985. The program is coordinated through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

What makes our program unique and effective?

Main Street America™ is a movement. Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. It is the leading voice for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization across the country. Made up of small
towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, Main Street America represents the broad diversity that makes this country so unique. Working together, the programs that make up the Main Street America network help to breathe new life into the places people call home.

Main Street America™ is a mark of distinction. It is a seal, recognizing that participating programs, organizations, and communities are part of a
national movement with a proven track record for celebrating community character, preserving local history, and generating impressive economic
returns. Since 1980, over 2,000 communities have been part of Main Street, bringing renewed energy and activity to America’s downtowns and commercial districts, securing $61 billion in new investment creating more than 525,000 net new jobs and rehabilitating 251,000 buildings.

Main Street America™ is a time-tested strategy. Main Street America communities are encouraged to make use of a time-tested approach, known as the Main Street Approach. The Main Street Approach is rooted in a commitment to broad-based community engagement, a holistic understanding of the factors that impact the quality of life in a community, and strategic focus on the core principles of downtown and neighborhood
revitalization: Economic Vitality, Quality Design, Effective Promotion, and Sustainable Organization.

The Main Street Approach

The Four Point Main Street Approach™ is based on: 
Sustainable Organization - Building broad-based partnerships to manage the revitalization effort.
Effective Promotion - Creating and marketing a positive image for downtown.
Quality Design - Improving the physical environment of downtown.
Economic Vitality- Strengthening and expanding downtown’s existing economic assets​.

The Benefits of the Main Street Program

For the residents - More jobs, goods, services and housing.
For the business people - More customers and sales.
For the visitors - More reasons to visit, spend more and stay longer. 
For elected officials & city leaders - Increased real property and sales tax revenue, and industrial recruitment.