Great American Main Street Awards®
Each year, the National Trust Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive commercial district revitalization. These award-winning communities have demonstrated proven success in using the Main Street Four Point Approach® to create economic vitality, a unique sense of place, and a strong commitment to the community by all stakeholders.
After a brief hiatus, the Great American Main Street Awards® (GAMSA) returned in 2009. Five exceptional Main Street programs were honored with this year's award: Broadway District - Green Bay, Wisconsin; El Dorado, Arkansas; Federal Hill, Baltimore, Maryland; Livermore, California; and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware — were selected by a nationwide jury of 10 community development specialists.
Eligibility to Apply
The Great American Main Street Awards® competition is open to all National Main Street Programs accredited for at least the two years prior to applying for the award. In other words, to be eligible for the 2010 Awards, your program must have been accredited in both 2008 and 2009. At this time, previous winners are ineligible to apply for GAMSA. To see a list of accredited programs by year and state, click here
Selection Process
The Great America Main Street Awards® (GAMSA) application process has two stages — Preliminary and Semifinalist:
- The Preliminary Application is an online application and will ask for statistical figures from your community, narrative about your revitalization efforts, and photographs. A one-time application fee of $150 is due with your preliminary application.
- The Semifinalist Application will be required for semifinalists only and will ask for additional background material, including a short video, maps, letters of support, other supporting documents, and a resolution of support from your local government.
National Trust staff review all GAMSA entries using the established criteria and assign preliminary scores to each applicant. The top-scoring applications will be selected as semifinalists and invited to submit a Semifinalist Application. A jury of representatives from the community revitalization, economic development, and historic preservation fields will review the semifinalist applications and select up to five winners. The jury will use these same criteria to evaluate each semifinalist application. Evaluation of applications is based on the achievements of the commercial district and community as a whole, not the performance of an individual or a single organization.
Recognition of Winners
Winners of the 2010 Great American Main Street Awards® will be officially honored at an awards ceremony during the 2010 National Main Streets Conference, May 2-5, 2010, in Oklahoma City. The awards ceremony will feature the winners' achievements, as well as presentation of the award.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation will distribute press releases announcing the award winners to local and national media. Winning communities will also be featured in an issue of the National Trust Main Street Center's monthly journal, Main Street News, as well as on the www.mainstreet.org and www.PreservationNation.org websites and in other media.
Great American Main Street Awards® communities also receive a bronze plaque and a certificate marking their achievement.
