Montana Main Street Program

The Montana Main Street Program, (MMS) established in 2005, is administered by the Community MT Division within the Montana Department of Commerce. As a state coordinating program within the Main Street America network, the MMS Program awards competitive grant funding to communities focusing on planning and/or implementation projects directly related to downtown revitalization, development, and historic preservation. Using the Main Street Approach™ to downtown revitalization, the MMS Program also offers technical assistance to communities striving for economic vitality while maintaining local historic integrity, quality of life, and a sense of place. Such goals are best met by uniting larger community ideas and efforts with program organization, coordination, and resources.

Mission

The MMS program is dedicated to bettering the economic, historic, and cultural vitality of Montana downtowns through community development, revitalization, and historic preservation. MMS fosters grassroots efforts through coordination and technical assistance, focused on a comprehensive approach to restoring healthy community commercial districts and preserving the historic structures that contribute to Montana’s unique sense of place.

Vision

Adopting the Main Street Approach™ to revitalization, MMS program envisions a broader community and state effort dedicated to improving our downtown economies and historic districts. MMS aims to encourage and promote local efforts through a statewide network of educational outreach, coordination, and organization, to effectively lead Main Street communities throughout Montana toward fulfilling our mission as well as their own.

Goals

• Preserve and promote Montana historic and cultural resources.
• Promote long-term planning for revitalization success.
• Organize efforts and coordinate conversations among and within Montana communities.
• Support economic, community and tourism development to facilitate a comprehensive sense of place.
• Enable small business owners to succeed by creating vibrant and healthy downtown districts.