If the economic vitality of your downtown is on your mind, then the Main Street America Institute’s Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street course is for you! Generously sponsored by U.S. Bank, this three-week live, online course will prepare local leaders to uplift small businesses in their communities. Through learning how to identify place-based assets and resources for small businesses, participants will better understand how to collaboratively build a strong community support network that centers economic vitality. Combining interactive classroom sessions and a hands-on course project, participants will gain new skills and develop a distribution-ready small business guide for the local Main Street. Keep reading and visit main​street​.org for details, or register now to secure your seat at this invaluable special course!

Member discounts and registration scholarships are available.

Details

When: September 5, 12, and 19, 2024 

Schedule:

• September 5: 2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT 
• September 12: 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. CDT
• September 19: 2:00p.m.- 4:00 p.m. CDT 

Format: Live online sessions – one per week for three weeks – plus independent course work, approximately three hours per week. Participants will also spend an average of three hours outside of class each week learning foundational concepts and working on the overarching course project.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of transformation strategies within the framework of the Main Street Approach 
• Learn market analysis techniques using data, surveys, and district investigation 
• Practice transformation strategy development techniques through hands-on exercises using data from two communities — the host city and your own!

Instructors: This course is led by Main Street America’s Senior Manager of Education, Tasha Sams, and features instruction from expert guest speakers and Main Street America staff. Meet the instructors here >

Pricing: $275 members | $350 non-members

Who Should Participate: This course is ideal for revitalization professionals and leaders in management positions at the local, city-wide, or state level in organizations engaged in the fields of community revitalization and economic development.

Registration: Registration is open through Friday, August 30. Register >

Scholarships: As part of U.S. Bank’s sponsorship, a limited number of scholarships providing registration at a reduced rate of $100 are available to participants serving communities located within U.S. Bank markets. Communities must be located within 20 miles of a U.S. Bank location to be considered, with special priority given to participants serving districts located in the states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. Learn more >

Credit: Completion of the 2024 Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street course counts toward MSAI’s new certification pathway; both new and current MSAI participants can receive credit toward certification. Learn more >

Full Details: Complete course description, policies, and more are available here >

Questions? Email msai@​mainstreet.​org