Main Street America (MSA) will be launching a storytelling campaign that focuses on the symbiotic relationship between Main Street programs and their small businesses. The campaign has a dual purpose: to showcase different facets of the downtown small business ecosystem and to act as an advocacy tool, underlining the need to support Main Street programs and businesses. MSA is seeking stories about both Main Street programs’ role in supporting the local economy and specific impacts of the pandemic on small businesses.

Stories should be written by local Main Street directors, featuring a specific highlight of one small business that plays an outsized role in the downtown environment. Only one business per Main Street community will be featured to ensure as many towns are featured as possible. To capture this relationship, stories should cover two key areas: the Main Street program’s response and the effects on the small business. MSA will be looking to feature a diverse collection of businesses and storytellers, focusing on minority and/or woman/nonbinary-owned businesses. Click here to submit a story!

MSA also encourages storytellers to share a photo of the business owner or full staff, as well as a picture of the Main Street manager or Main Street team. Please upload photos here!

If you have questions, please reach out to Abby Armato at aarmato@savingplaces.org.