California Main Street Program

In 1986, California joined a growing national movement to improve the quality of life in America's towns, cities, and neighborhoods by reinvigorating the economic health of their historic Main Street central business districts. The Main Street program was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation more than 25 years ago and administered by the non-profit National Main Street Center, rebranded in 2015 as Main Street America. The program has utilized a public-private partnership of private investment, local government support, and local non-profit assistance to revitalize historic commercial districts. The locally driven, grass roots, "Main Street Approach" focuses on four points: organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring.

California Main Street (CAMS), an affiliate of Main Street America, unites the forces of local economic redevelopment and historic preservation to build and enhance diverse downtown areas. By providing training and technical assistance, CAMS is one of the most effective programs to help revitalize historic commercial cores of towns and cities across the state. The program offers select cities and unincorporated towns a proven framework to preserve the historic character of downtown areas by attracting businesses, capital investors and consumers. Though not every city, town or neighborhood engaged in revitalization seeks Main Street certification, many California commercial districts actively pursue the prestigious designation as a California Main Street District.

CAMS Staff and Board of Directors

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