Nevada, Iowa. Photo by KandE Productions.
Whether you’re new to the field or decades into your journey, the Academy offers a curated learning experience built for Main Street changemakers — with resources, recognition, and relationships designed to help you develop your skills, grow your impact, and lead with confidence in your community.
Take self-paced modules, sign up for webinars, join live courses, and learn about upcoming in-person workshops — all designed to meet you where you are and move your work forward.
Metuchen, New Jersey
Find curated learning experiences designed to meet you where you are and support your unique contributions. Our inaugural learning journey for local Main Street leaders rolls out this summer, with additional role-specific pathways coming soon!
© Brunswick, Georgia
Advance toward the refreshed Main Street Revitalization Professional (MSARP) credential with a tiered certification journey that honors both what you know and what you do.
Explore our entire suite of resources, from courses to articles, and bookmark them to your dashboard. Everything you need, all in one place.
Quincy, Illinois
Gain organizational tools for maximum impact. Photo by FlamingoImages
Learn how to develop and operationalize solid organizational systems with this three-part course starting December 3.
Florence, South Carolina. Photo by True Light Photography.
Explore the Four Points of the Main Street Approach with this free, self-guided series.
Raton, New Mexico © Patricia Duran
Get support for every stage of your Main Street career with these self-guided courses.
2025 Main Street Now Conference. Photo by BeauMonde Originals.
Dive into encore presentations of top-rated 2025 Main Street Now Conference sessions.
Stevenson, Washington. Photo by Alicia Gallo.
Bring your community’s vision to life with this immersive train-the-trainer learning experience.
The Main Street America Academy is the go-to destination for local leaders and place managers seeking practical, engaging, and relevant learning experiences. From self-guided courses to in-person workshops, the Academy is professional development made for Main Street.
The Academy is for anyone dedicated to building vibrant, durable Main Streets. We welcome downtown and commercial district development champions of all levels and experience, including:
The Academy offers a variety of learning experiences to meet you where you are and to support your growth as a Main Street changemaker. Our catalogue includes self-guided courses, on-demand webinars, in-person workshops, and live, instructor-led virtual courses. We also offer foundational training on the Main Street Approach and role-based learning journeys.
It’s free to join the Academy! Additionally, there’s no cost to enroll in foundational Main Street courses. There is a registration fee for advanced self-guided courses, in-person workshops, and live, instructor-led virtual courses; please see these offerings for details.
Main Street America members enjoy a significant discount on paid learning experiences, and additional discounts may be available through our Coordinating Program partners.
The Academy recognizes the real-world work, continuous learning, and powerful leadership of Main Street practitioners through the Main Street America Revitalization Professional (MSARP) credential. Launching in the coming months, the new point-based, tiered MSARP pathway system encourages practitioners to participate in a wide range of educational offerings, reflective learning, knowledge application, and contributions to the Main Street movement. Stay tuned for more!
Additionally, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for completing certain Academy activities. More information about AICP’s CM program can be found here.
Never miss out on the latest Academy news and opportunities: Sign up to receive updates here!
Pro tip: Make sure to select the “Professional Development and Education” subscription preference.
We’re here to support you every step of the way!
Running a successful Main Street program requires passion, dedication, and solid organizational systems. Learn how to identify and evaluate inefficient systems, and how to turn hurdles into helpers with this three-part, peer-instructor course starting December 3, 2025. Come with a desire to explore systems-based thinking and walk away with the clarity, structure, and confidence to lead with intention.
Running a successful Main Street program requires passion, dedication, and solid organizational systems. Learn how to identify and evaluate inefficient systems, and how to turn hurdles into helpers with this three-part, peer-instructor course starting December 3, 2025. Come with a desire to explore systems-based thinking and walk away with the clarity, structure, and confidence to lead with intention.
Gain organizational tools for maximum impact. Photo by FlamingoImages
We've just added four new, free, self-guided Local Main Street Leader learning journey courses in the Main Street America Academy. From a deep dive into market analysis to strategies for building trust, each course is designed to support your abilities to launch your leadership efforts to the next level.
We've just added four new, free, self-guided Local Main Street Leader learning journey courses in the Main Street America Academy. From a deep dive into market analysis to strategies for building trust, each course is designed to support your abilities to launch your leadership efforts to the next level.
Gain tools to turn plans into progress. Photo by Ellen Gailing
Mission-driven work is tough, requiring changemakers to navigate stressful situations and develop resilience. Learning how to listen to and work with your body can help! Join us on Thursday, November 13, for Reclaim Resilience: Nervous System Practices for Sustainable Leadership, a workshop for impact-driven changemakers interested in learning practical nervous system regulation techniques that support clarity, presence, and sustainable leadership.
Mission-driven work is tough, requiring changemakers to navigate stressful situations and develop resilience. Learning how to listen to and work with your body can help! Join us on Thursday, November 13, for Reclaim Resilience: Nervous System Practices for Sustainable Leadership, a workshop for impact-driven changemakers interested in learning practical nervous system regulation techniques that support clarity, presence, and sustainable leadership.
Learn how to stay grounded with body-based tools. Photo by Drazen Zigic/iStock
We've just debuted three new free courses in the Main Street America Academy—Foundations: The Main Street Approach, Introduction to Conflict Resolution, and Managing Professional Relationships. Take your leadership skills to the next level with these invaluable building blocks.
We've just debuted three new free courses in the Main Street America Academy—Foundations: The Main Street Approach, Introduction to Conflict Resolution, and Managing Professional Relationships. Take your leadership skills to the next level with these invaluable building blocks.
Deepen your knowledge, bring your vision to life, and expand your impact with our latest Main Street America Academy course. Whether you’re navigating your first grant or hosting a community event, the Local Main Street Leader Launching module is designed to support your growth without burning out.
Deepen your knowledge, bring your vision to life, and expand your impact with our latest Main Street America Academy course. Whether you’re navigating your first grant or hosting a community event, the Local Main Street Leader Launching module is designed to support your growth without burning out.
Generously sponsored by U.S. Bank, this live, three-week course centers the real challenges of entrepreneurs and equips Main Street leaders with invaluable insights and practical tools to respond. Register today!
Oregon City, Oregon. Photo by Adam Wickham.
Learn best practices and real-world insights to develop sustainable revitalization strategies, plus get your community’s latest market data—a $750 value—at the 2025 Community Transformation Workshop, in Columbia and Hartsville, South Carolina, October 13-15. Registration closes on September 29. Space is limited. Don't wait!
Learn best practices and real-world insights to develop sustainable revitalization strategies, plus get your community’s latest market data—a $750 value—at the 2025 Community Transformation Workshop, in Columbia and Hartsville, South Carolina, October 13-15. Registration closes on September 29. Space is limited. Don't wait!
From interactive self-paced courses and immersive in-person workshops, the Academy offers practical, engaging, and flexible learning experiences designed to help you grow your impact, sharpen your skills, and lead with confidence. We invite you to join us as we embark on this bold new chapter—start exploring the Academy today!
Join us for encore presentations of attendee-favorite sessions from the 2025 Main Street Now Conference, offering fresh perspectives on the topics that matter most to Main Street leaders.
From honing foundational best practices and approaches to diving into the latest trends and techniques, the Main Street America Academy's suite of summer learning opportunities has something for everyone.
From honing foundational best practices and approaches to diving into the latest trends and techniques, the Main Street America Academy's suite of summer learning opportunities has something for everyone.
The future of Main Street learning is almost here, and it starts with a bold new chapter. Coming in July 2025, the Main Street America Academy will provide practical, engaging, and flexible educational experiences designed for local leaders and practitioners.
The future of Main Street learning is almost here, and it starts with a bold new chapter. Coming in July 2025, the Main Street America Academy will provide practical, engaging, and flexible educational experiences designed for local leaders and practitioners.
Associate Research Analyst Aoife Harte shares her experience attending the 2024 Community Transformation Workshop.
Associate Research Analyst Aoife Harte shares her experience attending the 2024 Community Transformation Workshop.
Last year, we announced upcoming changes to the Main Street America Institute. We are excited to provide an update on those changes and a sneak peek at what you can expect in the future.
Last year, we announced upcoming changes to the Main Street America Institute. We are excited to provide an update on those changes and a sneak peek at what you can expect in the future.
Starting in early 2024, we will engage in an intensive program assessment of MSAI. We look forward to bringing an enhanced Main Street professional development experience to the network later in the year.
Starting in early 2024, we will engage in an intensive program assessment of MSAI. We look forward to bringing an enhanced Main Street professional development experience to the network later in the year.
Main Streeters gathered for the Community Transformation Workshop to explore strategies to advance their work.
Main Streeters gathered for the Community Transformation Workshop to explore strategies to advance their work.
