Illinois Main Street

06/07/2026

The hard work of Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin IL and director, Jennifer Fukala featured in Main Street America’s newsletter!

Remember. It’s a journey. Not a destination.

"Start with deep listening, build relationships before you build programs, and don’t underestimate the power of helping makers see each other as collaborators rather than competitors."

Learn how Elgin, Illinois, developed the Made in Elgin Incubator program to help small businesses go from local markets to brick-and-mortar. Read here: https://bit.ly/4x2TzQj

06/07/2026

Waiting…. 🤩

We’ve been sitting on a secret tourism promotion for Downtown Monticello, and frankly, it’s exhausting.

Do you know how hard it is to be this nosy and not spill the details?

For now, all we can say is this: visitors are going to love it, locals are going to want in on it, and your favorite downtown businesses are getting ready for some fun.

06/07/2026

Markets. Markets. And more markets. You want them, our Main Street District’s got them! 🥕 🌽 👩🏻‍🌾 🧑🏽‍🌾 🚜

Veggies, plants, sourdough, baked goods, dairy, and more — oh my!

We are so excited for our first market day of the season this Saturday, June 6, from 9 AM to Noon in Mt. Sterling, next to Brown County State Bank. All your favorite vendors will be there — come see us!

05/28/2026

Lots to see in Alton Main Street!

05/28/2026

Love seeing partners at work in the Morgan Park Beverly Hills area. 💪🏼

We had an enlightening NBDC Roundtable yesterday thanks to the Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection team and 5 MPBHBA business owners that were able to join us! Thanks to the engagement of Kendall Griffin of Afro Joe's Coffee & Tea, Brian Vargas of Beverly Bicycle Repair Shop, Whitney Castle of Keir Foot & Ankle Specialists, Vernon Lockhart of Art on the Loose, and Lori Parrett of Cakewalk Chicago (not pictured), who were able to share their experiences with other businesses across Chicago and the city’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection NBDC team.

We attended with fellow Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC) in the 19th Ward, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with these organizations — Beverly Area Planning Association, Mount Greenwood Community and Business Association, & 95th Street Business Association. Stay tuned for a full recap in next week’s newsletter!

05/28/2026

Way back Wednesday! 🥳

05/27/2026

Spring is busy across Illinois Main Street communities. Farmers markets are opening, events are filling downtown calendars, and our districts are coming alive. 🌷

But this month’s newsletter is also a reminder that Main Street is about more than events. We are drivers of economic and community development, helping build stronger downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts one business, one building, and one block at a time.

Inside this month’s update:
✅ Illinois Main Street’s 2025 Collective Impact
✅ $80.8M reinvested locally
✅ 106 net new businesses
✅ Route 66 Centennial updates
✅ BOOMS Tracker + Small Business Hub resources
✅ Downtown news from across Illinois
✅ Economic development trends and ideas

Read the May Illinois Main Street Monthly and see what’s happening across the network!

Street AmericaIllinois Route 66 Scenic BywayLandmarks Illinois
Lt. Governor Juliana StrattonIllinois Department of Commerce & Economic OpportunityEnjoy IllinoisIllinois Economic Development Association

Spring is here, and across Illinois Main Street communities that means event season, outdoor markets, ribbon cuttings, festivals, music, public art, and people filling our downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. But as we move into this busy season, it is worth saying clearly: we are not si...

05/22/2026

Illinois Main Street friends, take a look at what our designated communities accomplished in 2025. 💥

Our 2025 Collective Impact snapshot shows the real, measurable results of place-based economic development happening across Illinois Main Streets every day:

✅ $80.8M reinvested locally
✅ 106 net new businesses
✅ 465 net jobs gained
✅ 239 rehab projects
✅ 14,781 volunteer hours

Plus: 25 public improvement projects, 4 new construction projects, $39.9M public investment, and $40.8M private investment.

Not to mention ramping up celebrating the Illinois Route 66 Centennial this year!

This is what happens when communities organize, invest, and lead together. One building, one business, one block at a time.

📣 Proud to be part of the national Main Street movement and to share these results alongside Main Street America’s 2025 network-wide impact.

Drop a comment with a win from your community this year 👇

And if you’re not plugged into Illinois Main Street yet, come join us at an upcoming event and see the network in action.

11/22/2025

Without the support of the Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton the work of Illinois Main Street would not be possible. We appreciate your partnership and commitment to our downtowns and commercial districts across Illinois!