There’s a new way for your supporters to show their love for your Main Street program. Category6LED makes mini replicas of iconic gateway signs. Several California Main Street communities, including Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff, Coronado, and Oceanside, have them for sale - and your community could be next!

California continues to endure days of heavy rain, flooding and high winds. CAMS and Main Street America are here to help support our communities across the state during these challenging times.

We've gathered a few timely resources that we hope may offer some assistance in your efforts to keep yourself and your community safe and informed, and to respond to any damage.

Newsworthy nuggets from our CAMS communities - a life-size Han Solo made of bread, Richmond’s got spirit and soul, a witchy invasion in Livermore and more.

A note from Amanda Elliott, Senior Program Officer and Director of California Programs, Main Street America: It is so exciting to see our communities in full swing with vibrant activity! Main Street America has released new information on the update to our Accreditation Standards, site visits have resumed and CAMS welcomed a new team member. Next up: our first in-person CAMS conference in five years!

For 13 years, the Shop Small® movement has helped rally communities around the businesses they love and The Main Street America network has been a proud supporter since the beginning. We hope you’ll join us to help make this year an even bigger success by serving as a 2022 Neighborhood Champion. As in past years, all Main Street America members have been pre-qualified to serve as Neighborhood Champions on a first-come, first served basis.

The CAMS conference is an opportunity for all those involved in California commercial district revitalization to learn best practices, key trends, and economic development strategies to support small businesses as they continue to transform and recover from the pandemic.

The City of Lakeport, population 5,000, is full of small town charm and rich in history dating back over 100 years. Downtown Lakeport is the county seat and sits on the western shore of Clear Lake, one of the oldest lakes in North America. For over 10 years, Lakeport MainStreet Association (LMSA) has been cultivating their community snd inviting us all to spend a day at the lake.

Todd Anderson, Owner of Switchfoot Creative has joined the CAMS Board of Directors, Brooke Fox, Owner of Uptown Fox and former ED of Downtown Vacaville BID, is now onboard as the new Marketing and Communications Consultant for CAMS and Downtown Pleasanton Association has a new Executive Director: Bridget Karl.

In August 2022, Main Street America released new materials and resources designed to help members understand MSA’s new Community Standards. The update includes the Community Evaluation Framework, Community Self-Assessment Tool (v2), and a series of mini videos illustrating the new Standards.

The Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) is seeking an Executive Director.

The Westwood Village Improvement Association (WVIA) is seeking an Executive Director to lead the WVIA in assuring the Westwood Business Improvement District (WBID) is a vibrant, clean, safe, and economically vital community.

California Main Street seeks a marketing and communications consultant to support our work backing a diverse network of communities working to revitalize historic commercial districts through a place-based model that fosters inclusive transformation strategies.

We are proud to announce the California Main Street programs that have earned Accredited and Affiliate status, as well as the reinvestment impact that our network contributed to their communities in 2021.

A note from Amanda Elliott, Senior Program Officer and Director of California Programs, Main Street America: It is so exciting to see our communities in full swing with vibrant activity! California Main Street continues to seek funding from the state to support our revitalization efforts and our Main Street programs. We are also seeking new board members and stories about your incredible work…

Newsworthy nuggets from our CAMS communities - groovy pop-up skate rinks, flipping flapjacks with a purpose, connecting service-based businesses with recovery funds, and more.

Main Street executive directors make innumerable marks on the communities that they serve, many oftentimes unseen by the general public. Longtime Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association executive director, Norma Moyes, is no exception. Now, thanks to the efforts of local leaders, artists, and business owners, Norma’s legendary status as a tireless leader and cheerleader for downtown Paso Robles will be on permanent display for years to come.

Mary Means, founder of the Main Street Movement, offers observations and advice gleaned from conversations, sessions, and experiences at the 2022 Main Street Now Conference.

Creating Community Vitality! was a 2-day virtual gathering and opportunity for all those involved in California commercial district revitalization to learn best practices, key trends, and economic development strategies to support small businesses as they continue to transform and recover from the pandemic.

Learn all about Main Street America’s holistic set of six new community standards aimed to elevate and guide our organizations’ focus and efforts, as well as details for full implementation and how to integrate this foundation framework into your program’s work plan.

A note from Amanda Elliott, Senior Program Officer and Director of California Programs, Main Street America: 2022 is off to a great start! So many amazing opportunities on the horizon.