Main Street Alabama

Main Street Alabama Creating jobs. Keeping character. Main Street Alabama is the state coordinating program for Main Street communities in the state.
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Main Street Alabama focuses on bringing jobs, dollars and people back to Alabama's historic communities. Economic development is at the heart of our efforts to revitalize downtowns and neighborhoods.

🌟 Main Street Alabama Grant Recipient Project | Speakers & FurnishingsIn FY24, Main Street Alabama provided grants of up...
06/08/2026

🌟 Main Street Alabama Grant Recipient Project | Speakers & Furnishings

In FY24, Main Street Alabama provided grants of up to $25,000 to all Designated Communities, supporting projects that enhance community spaces and drive economic growth statewide. Main Street Anniston used this funding to upgrade Noble Street Park and the City Market with speakers for streamed music, new benches, picnic tables, umbrellas, trash receptacles, and security cameras.

These improvements make public spaces more welcoming, encourage visitors to linger downtown, and strengthen the sense of safety. By investing in projects like this, Main Street Alabama helps improve first impressions, support local businesses, and foster long-term economic impact in Anniston.

The City of Anniston, Alabama

👋 Meet the Board | Mary Jackson PollardMary joined the Alabama League of Municipalities staff in July 2021 as the Educat...
06/05/2026

👋 Meet the Board | Mary Jackson Pollard

Mary joined the Alabama League of Municipalities staff in July 2021 as the Education Coordinator and Alabama Communities of Excellence’s Program Coordinator. The Education Coordinator was a new position responsible for curriculum oversite of the League’s conferences and events, as well as additional training and outreach programs implemented by the League.

In September 2022, the League adopted the twenty-year-old Alabama Communities of Excellence program and enhanced its outreach and support to communities with populations between 2,000-18,000. Of the 50 communities involved in ACE, the League is excited to see the growth of the program into the next 20 years. As of September 2024, Mary assumed the new role of Director of Professional and Community Development to help with the administrative functions of the EDA program and further the continuation of ACE, CMO and educational opportunities at ALM.

Prior to joining the League’s team, she served as the City Clerk/Treasurer of Monroeville for six years where she received her Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation in November 2020 and in 2018 achieved the Certified Governmental Accounting Technician (CGAT) designation. During her time in Monroeville, she also chaired the Promotions Committee for Monroeville Main Street and briefly served on the Main Street Alabama Board as the City Clerk representative. A proud Rotarian for 7 years, Mary served as Monroeville Rotary President from 2018-2020.

In May 2024, Mary received a Master of Arts degree from The University of Alabama’s College of Communications and Information Sciences in Organizational Leadership to complement her BA in Communications from the University of Colorado - Denver (2004.) She graduated with honors in the Lambda Pi Eta, Omega Nu Lambda, and Golden Key International Honor Societies at the University of Alabama.

When asked she chooses to serve on the Main Street Alabama Board, Mary stated, "I find MSA’s program to be so valuable and impactful to our communities of any size population. Before joining ALM, I was on the other side of the Main Street spectrum and serving on the Promotions Committee with Monroeville Main Street (GAMSA 2024 Recipient). I’m honored Greg asked me to fill ALM’s ex-officio role on the board and hope to eventually serve in any capacity with MSA as needed."

We are grateful to Mary for sharing her expertise and supporting Alabama’s downtowns.

06/04/2026

Our historic downtowns are what make a place somewhere and not just anywhere.

In this clip from the Sweet Home Towns Podcast, Christy Anderson, National Register & Easements Coordinator for the Alabama Historical Commission, shares why historic preservation remains one of the most important tools for strengthening communities across Alabama.

🎧Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

We’re excited to announce that Joe Minicozzi, AICP, founder of Urban3, LLC will serve as a keynote speaker for the 2026 ...
06/04/2026

We’re excited to announce that Joe Minicozzi, AICP, founder of Urban3, LLC will serve as a keynote speaker for the 2026 Summit of Excellence.

Joe is nationally recognized for helping communities better understand the economic impact of development and the value of Main Street districts through data, storytelling, and engaging visualizations. His keynote will explore how public policy and development patterns shape the financial health of cities and towns, while giving attendees practical tools to better communicate the value of downtown investment.

This is a session that will challenge the way you think about growth, development, and the future of your community.

Register today for the 2026 Summit of Excellence:
https://ow.ly/Ih2W50Z5JA9

Early bird registration ends June 30th at 5PM.

Main Street Alabama President & State Coordinator Mary Helmer Wirth will join industry leaders from across the state as ...
06/03/2026

Main Street Alabama President & State Coordinator Mary Helmer Wirth will join industry leaders from across the state as a speaker at the upcoming InterFace Alabama Retail Conference in Birmingham on June 11.

The conference brings together retail real estate professionals, developers, investors, community leaders, and industry experts to discuss the trends, redevelopment strategies, and investment opportunities shaping Alabama’s retail landscape and commercial districts.

As communities across Alabama continue investing in vibrant downtowns and neighborhood commercial corridors, these conversations are more important than ever.

Learn more or register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/fef8d44a-924d-4e65-bbd8-d224fc965016/summary

Across the Network | New Brockton, AlabamaNew Brockton is a small Coffee County community with a historic downtown distr...
06/03/2026

Across the Network | New Brockton, Alabama

New Brockton is a small Coffee County community with a historic downtown district that reflects the town’s longstanding history and local character. As a new Network member, New Brockton is beginning important conversations about the future of its downtown district and the opportunities ahead.

We recently met with local leaders to gather information, tour the downtown district, and discuss community goals and priorities. As a benefit of being a Network Community, New Brockton has now received a custom annual report with practical recommendations for next steps to help begin their downtown revitalization journey.

Main Street Alabama works with more than 65 communities across the state at the Network and Designated levels, all committed to strengthening downtown economic development and bringing new life to Alabama’s historic districts.

Interested in bringing this type of support to your community? Applications to join the Main Street Alabama Network will open again in August. Visit https://ow.ly/wGrL50Z1aYx to learn more.

Summer on Main Street brings a special kind of energy. ☀️💬 From Michelle West, Executive Director of Main Street Alexand...
06/02/2026

Summer on Main Street brings a special kind of energy. ☀️

💬 From Michelle West, Executive Director of Main Street Alexander City:

“Summer on Main Street feels like the whole town has exhaled and stepped outside at once. Restaurants and bars stay open a little later, their windows glowing warmly as people drift in and out without hurry. The sidewalks begin to fill with joy and laughter. There’s a rhythm to it—live music echoing faintly from somewhere down the block, the sound of car doors opening and closing followed by cheerful chatter, and the chirping of little birds as if it’s their job to add a touch of harmony.

Saturday mornings bring their own kind of magic with the Farmer’s market. Tents line the center of downtown in bold pops of color, filled with fresh produce, homemade goods, and the scent of baked bread and cinnamon lingering in the warm air. Neighbors greet each other with easy familiarity, stopping to talk longer than they planned, while vendors share stories behind what they’ve grown or made. It’s unhurried and simple, a quiet kind of joy that feels just as much a part of summer as the sunshine itself.

As the days stretch longer, everything seems touched by sunlight. People spill out onto the street, strung with lights that don’t fully come alive until the sky softens into gold and pink. The air carries the scent of food, warm pavement, and blooming flowers, while the setting sun paints the buildings in soft, glowing hues. Even after dusk, no one seems eager to leave. Summer lingers there—in conversations that run long, in slow strolls home, and in the quiet sense that, for a little while, life feels lighter and beautifully unhurried.”

We're excited to welcome Dothan and Selma as Main Street Alabama's newest Designated Communities! After a highly competi...
06/02/2026

We're excited to welcome Dothan and Selma as Main Street Alabama's newest Designated Communities! After a highly competitive application process, these two communities have earned a place among just 36 designated districts statewide.

Read the full announcement and learn what this designation means for their future: https://www.mainstreetalabama.org/news-events/

Downtown Dothan Selma Redevelopment Authority Main Street America

🌟 Main Street Alabama Grant Recipient Project | Elba Downtown Gateway OasisIn FY24, Main Street Alabama provided grants ...
06/01/2026

🌟 Main Street Alabama Grant Recipient Project | Elba Downtown Gateway Oasis

In FY24, Main Street Alabama provided grants of up to $25,000 to all Designated Communities, supporting projects that strengthen community engagement and economic vitality across the state. Main Street Elba used this funding to transform a vacant lot near the Pea River Bridge into the Downtown Gateway Oasis, a vibrant park that marks the entrance to the 2-mile Downtown Elba Walking Trail.

The Oasis features colorful mosaics celebrating local heritage, lush landscaping, and a historic trolley display. This new space intends to attracts visitor, revitalize underused land, and enhance downtown aesthetics while fostering pride and engagement for residents and small businesses.

Main Street Alabama designation is a competitive process that requires significant planning, local commitment, and inves...
05/29/2026

Main Street Alabama designation is a competitive process that requires significant planning, local commitment, and investment from the applying community. Designated programs receive training, technical assistance, and ongoing support focused on downtown revitalization, historic preservation, and economic development.

We’re excited to share that the 2026 New Designation Announcement will be released Tuesday, June 2. Follow along on our social channels to celebrate with us!

Address

880 Montclair Road Suite 245
Birmingham, AL
35213

Telephone

(205) 910-8819

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