Recognizing the important role neighborhood commercial districts play in the overall health of the City’s neighborhoods, in 2008 Mayor Buddy Dyer and the Orlando City Council created Orlando Main Streets. With annual financial support, technical assistance and intensive training from the City of Orlando, Orlando Main Street Districts create, define and strengthen our commercial districts in the City.

Each District creates an individual work plan envisioned and implemented by a nonprofit Board of Directors. Orlando Main Streets serve as the economic backbone for the City’s existing neighborhoods.

Orlando Main Street Districts receive technical assistance and training in the Main Street Four Point™ approach from Orlando Main Streets and the Main Street America. In turn, each Main Street organization hires a full time Executive Director, raises matching funds, incorporates its organization and implements its programs according to an annual work plan.

Learn more about the City of Orlando’s Main Street program at cityoforlando.net/mainstreet.

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 America, 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.

Market Streets. The Market Street program has been specifically designed for the City of Orlando. Neighborhood commercial districts that are unable to meet Main Street America’s 10-point criteria for National Accreditation are eligible for this program.

This enables the City of Orlando to abide by the National Main Street Center’s trademark and “Use of the Name” policy, while still providing training and technical assistance to individual neighborhood commercial districts throughout the City.