As part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and The Main Street Center, the Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a community-driven, approach plan to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States.

It is a common-sense way to address the issues and problems facing traditional business districts.  The Main Street approach encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation;  in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. The Main Street Approach advocates the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts to spotlight their unique assets: distinctive architecture, pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.

The Main Street Four-Point Approach™  works in four distinct areas:

• Organization involves assembling the volunteers, staff and financial resources for a Main Street revitalization program. A governing board and standing committees comprise the organizational structure, as volunteers are coordinated and supported by a paid program director.

• Promotion sells a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the downtown. This includes marketing a district's unique characteristics, forging a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity and special events.

• Design means getting the commercial area into top physical shape. Attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping, convey a positive message about the town. Main Street encourages good maintenance practices, rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction and developing sensitive design guidelines.

• Economic Restructuring strengthens a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base. The Main Street program helps sharpen the competitiveness of existing businesses and recruits compatible new businesses.  

These four areas combine to address commercial district needs.  The Main Street approach has been successful in communities of all sizes, both rural and urban. To succeed, a long-term revitalization effort requires careful attention to every aspect of downtown — a process that takes time and requires leadership.