Nashville was designated a Main Street community in 2001 by the Department of Community Affairs. Since becoming a Main Street Community over 60 properties have been developed or refurbished in Nashville’s downtown. Two downtown parks have been created and the community now has a farmer’s market. Volunteers have spent hundreds of hours working on downtown events which create excitement and entice a regional audience. A shop local program which includes the town’s own money has been incorporated and has served as an educational tool encouraging local spending. 

The mission of the Nashville Main Street Board of Directors is to enhance our community’s identity and heritage, to foster a center of activity and to ensure economic stability for downtown Nashville.

What is the Main Street Concept?

Main Street is a national movement that has spanned three decades and taken root in more than 2,000 communities – a movement that has spurred $56 billion in reinvestment in traditional commercial districts, galvanized thousands of volunteers, and changed the way governments, planners, and developers view preservation.

Over the past 34 years, the National Main Street Center has overseen the development of a national network of 46 coordinating programs. Helping cities, towns, and villages revitalize their downtown and neighborhood business districts utilizing the Main Street Four-Point Approach®.

The Main Street Four-Point Approach® is a unique preservation-based organizing framework of good Design, Economic Development, Organization and Promotional practices that enable communities to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets.