Illinois Main Street

08/12/2026

Always a great day when we get to spend time with our Illinois Main Street communities! 💙

We loved visiting Paxton Main Street and seeing firsthand the continued investment, building improvements, and momentum happening throughout downtown.

The visit was made even more special by celebrating another step forward for downtown Paxton as Congresswoman Robin Kelly presented funding to Mayor Ingold and the City of Paxton for the next phase of streetscape improvements along the 100 south block of Market Street.

Congratulations to Paxton Main Street and all of the local partners continuing to invest in a stronger, more vibrant downtown! 👏

Robin Kelly Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton Jackie Swihart Joi Cuartero Austin paxtonmainstreet Main Street America

08/10/2026

Love seeing these projects come to fruition! ♥️ congrats to Greater Freeport Partnership!

07/26/2026

07/25/2026

She’s an Illinois Main Street legend and a mentor to us all! Thank you Judy Taylor Tighe for all you do for Jacksonville Main Street and for the Main Street America movement. Congratulations on 25 amazing years. ✨🥳♥️

This year marks an incredible milestone—25 years of service to Jacksonville Main Street by our Executive Director, Judy Tighe.

Judy, on behalf of our Board of Directors, our volunteers, our downtown businesses, our sponsors, and everyone whose life you’ve touched over the past 25 years, thank you.

Tonight, we’d like to honor you in a special way.

We’ve asked 25 people to present you with a flower, each with a personal message of appreciation—one flower for every year you’ve dedicated to Jacksonville Main Street.

We hope that every flower reminds you of the countless lives you’ve impacted and the legacy you’ve built over the last 25 years.

Love you bunches,
Melissa

07/25/2026

More and more what Incremental Development Alliance has is what we need! 🏠 ❤️

Train the Builders Your Community Needs

If your community is serious about creating more housing, one question matters: Who is going to build it?

Every city has people who care deeply about their neighborhoods—architects, contractors, planners, business owners, and aspiring developers. Many simply need the knowledge, confidence, and network to take on their first project.

That's why we exist. The Incremental Development Alliance helps communities train local people to become the developers their neighborhoods need.

If you're looking for practical ways to expand housing opportunities, let's talk about bringing an IncDev training to your community. Our calendar is almost full for the rest of the year, but we still have a few open slots. Is your town ready to take the next step to create more housing options?

🔗 Click the link in our comments below to learn more about bringing IncDev training to your community.

07/25/2026

What a treat! A special way to Discover Dixon.

🇮🇹 No passport required! ✈️

Escape to a European-inspired evening right here in Dixon during Venetian Night!

Enjoy unique entertainment, friendly competitions, family fun and a breathtaking drone light show along the Riverfront. 🌅✨

📅 Saturday, Aug. 8
🕔 Festivities begin at 5 p.m.
🎟️ FREE admission

Presented by
Hicks Insurance Agency & Associates, Inc.
Ken Nelson Auto Group
CGH Medical Center
Mad Water Saloon
Palmyra Pub and Eatery

2026 Event Season Pinnacle Sponsors
Sauk Valley Bank
Raynor Garage Doors

07/25/2026

So many cool things happening in Downtown Bloomington IL.

07/23/2026

Cheers to the recipients! Thanks to Main Street America and American Express!

In partnership with American Express, we are so excited to congratulate 25 small business owners across the country that have been awarded $30,000 Enhancement Grants through the Backing Small Businesses grant program!

The Backing Small Businesses grant program, supported by American Express, invests in locally significant small businesses with community reach. Through this program, 400 recipients were selected in 2025 to each receive a $10,000 grant to fund projects that promote long-term growth and increase local impact. Additionally, in May 2025, a special round of the program provided 100 grants of $10,000 each to meet the urgent and growing needs of small businesses recovering from natural disasters. Recipients from both rounds were eligible to apply for the Enhancement Grants.

Since launching in 2021, the program has provided over $15.52 million in grants to 1,755 small business owners across the country.

Meet the recipients here: https://bit.ly/4gJZ6Wt

07/21/2026

🎉 Registration is now OPEN for the 2026 Illinois Main Street Conference!

Join downtown champions, economic development professionals, preservationists, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and volunteers from across Illinois as we gather in Springfield for three days of learning, inspiration, and connection.

📅 November 18–20, 2026
📍 Springfield, Illinois

This year’s conference will feature engaging speakers, educational sessions, hands-on workshops, downtown tours, networking opportunities, and special programming celebrating the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Centennial while showcasing the best of Springfield’s historic downtown.

Whether you’re looking for new ideas, practical tools, or opportunities to connect with peers from across the state, the Illinois Main Street Conference is the place to be.

🎟️ Register today and join us as we celebrate the people, places, and partnerships building stronger Illinois communities.

The conference is brought to us by the generous support of our 2026 partners and sponsors including a Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity grant from Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton.

Join fellow downtown revitalization leaders from across Illinois for three days of inspiration, connection, and celebration.