Montana Main Street Program Revitalizes Downtowns Across the State While Preserving Historical Charm
The Montana Main Street program, established in 2005, has played a transformative role in revitalizing downtown areas across the state, with 38 member communities benefiting from its services. Administered by the Montana Department of Commerce, this program fosters economic vitality, preserves historic resources and promotes cultural heritage. Through grants, technical assistance and a collaborative network of communities, MMS supports sustainable economic growth while ensuring that Montana’s unique sense of place is maintained.
The MMS program embodies Main Street America’s approach to revitalization, emphasizing the preservation of the charm of Montana’s downtowns. Its priorities include facilitating long-term downtown revitalization planning, coordinating efforts among communities to strengthen local economies and supporting businesses and tourism to foster economic development. These efforts reflect Commerce’s broader mission to enhance the quality of life for Montana residents and visitors while building resilient and prosperous communities.
Communities eager to join the MMS network or apply for the MMS grant are guided through a structured and thoughtful process, initiated by communication with program managers who provide information on program requirements. These requirements reflect the “Main Street Approach” coined by Main Street America, and ensure applicants meet qualifiers in organization, economic vitality, promotion and design.
Once these qualifiers are met, a community assessment is conducted by MMS representatives. If the community’s needs and demographic are a good fit for the program, they are invited to apply; approved communities become MMS members.
Membership includes access to scholarships, technical assistance, learning opportunities, networking connections and more. Additionally, only members of the MMS program are eligible to apply for the MMS grant, which provides funding to communities with projects that align with the program’s values.
Grant applications follow an annual cycle, with submissions typically due in mid-November of each year. The evaluation process assesses project needs, readiness and anticipated outcomes. Applicants must demonstrate how their projects will benefit the local economy, historic preservation efforts or cultural vitality of their main streets.
According to Micky Zurcher, Commerce’s MMS program coordinator, one of the program’s most impactful elements is its ability to connect local governments, businesses, nonprofits and community members. MMS facilitates collaboration through a statewide network that encourages sharing resources, ideas and best practices. This approach eliminates the need for communities to reinvent the wheel, as they can draw from the experience of many other communities who have found success in their goals.
To further facilitate this network, Zurcher recently implemented monthly “60 Minutes with Main Street” sessions. These meetings offer a platform for both members and interested communities to share successes, discuss challenges and explore innovative initiatives presented by experts.
The program’s success is evident in the transformative impact it has had on member communities. In Helena, for example, the MMS grant funded the creation of a detailed master plan for the city’s downtown revitalization, which became the catalyst for strategic action that bolstered Helena’s main streets while preserving its historic character. Bozeman, a newer member of the program, has also had downtown revitalization success and is now a resource for smaller communities with similar goals. Similarly, Butte has utilized the program to highlight their historic uptown areas.
"The City/County of Butte-Silver Bow has been able to benefit tremendously from MMS grant funding over the past few years, most recently to develop decorative sidewalk crossings and a wayfinding plan to help visitors navigate the historic uptown, part of the nation's largest historic landmark district," said George Everett, executive director of Mainstreet Uptown Butte Inc. “Thanks to the Montana Main Street program's funding and support, we have been able to put plans into action and make plans for more action in the future."
Although these cities have had success with the program, MMS equally values Montana’s many rural communities, tailoring its approach to meet the specific needs of each town. During visits to Roundup and Hamilton in 2023, Zurcher noted how well connected the towns’ main street organizations were with local government staff. She saw mutual respect in their collaboration efforts, which fosters success in project implementation.
“Success looks different for every community, and we are here to help through any stage,” stated Zurcher. “Becoming an MMS member is about leaning on each other’s successes through networking, collaboration and the sharing of experiences.”
Looking ahead, the MMS program remains committed to providing timely support and technical assistance to its members. Its ongoing goals include expanding outreach efforts, enhancing professional development and maintaining high accountability standards. Rather than using strict metrics, the program measures its success through the individual achievements of member communities. By continuing to celebrate community successes and offering hands-on support, MMS ensures it remains a trusted resource for Montana’s downtowns.
To learn more about the MMS program and the membership process, visit commerce.mt.gov.
Tags: Infrastructure + Planning and Article
