One of eight organizations recognized for exemplary downtown revitalization efforts nationally
Main Street America has announced Jefferson Matters as a 2025 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) semifinalist. This prestigious award is the nation’s top award recognizing communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization.
A jury of professionals and leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic preservation convened to review a nationwide pool of applicants. After thoughtful deliberation, the jury unanimously selected eight semifinalists that demonstrate exemplary use of the Main Street Approach™ to lead community-based transformation strategies in their downtowns.
The 2025 Great American Main Street Award semifinalists are:
Berlin Main Street – Berlin, Maryland; Denison Main Street – Denison, TX; Easton Main Street Initiative – Easton, PA; Main Street Farmington – Farmington, Oakland County, MI; Jefferson Matters – Jefferson, IA; Raton MainStreet/Arts & Culture District – Raton, NM; Vicksburg Main Street Program – Vicksburg, MS; and Downtown Wytheville Inc. – Wytheville, VA.
“I am honored to congratulate the eight Main Street organizations as 2025 Great American Main Street Award semifinalists and to celebrate their incredible accomplishments,” said Main Street America president and CEO Erin Barnes. “This year’s semifinalists demonstrate exceptional achievements in reenergizing their downtowns through inclusive, collaborative organizing and innovative economic development, arts and culture, and historic preservation initiatives.”
Collectively, the 2025 GAMSA semifinalists have generated more than $695 million in local reinvestment, helped open 975 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 7,190 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 1,568 historic buildings, and leveraged 333,050 volunteer hours.
Competing for the Great American Main Street Award is a significant achievement in the Main Street Movement, and receiving the award is an esteemed honor. Since its establishment in 1995, only 112 of over 2000 Main Street programs have been acknowledged as GAMSA-winning communities. Many Main Street programs set multi-year plans to work towards developing a strong application based on outcomes that make meaningful impacts in their local communities. Organizations are familiar with the selection criteria—strength of the Main Street program in spurring community transformation, commitment to historic preservation, innovative programming, implementation of cross-sector partnerships, community outreach and stakeholder engagement, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion—and build towards this opportunity to be recognized.
“I am so incredibly proud of the work our staff, volunteers, stakeholders, and community have put forth to make Jefferson a place worthy of this prestigious national recognition from Main Street America,” said Amy Milligan, president of Jefferson Matters. “To be recognized as one of the top eight out of more than 1,200 Main Street communities in the United States is a testament to Jefferson’s collaborative synergy, community pride, and dedication to a higher quality of life for both residents and visitors. Utilizing Main Street America’s highly successful ‘The Main Street Approach™’, Jefferson Matters has continued to evolve as a rural leader in community-based transformation since 2012. We are grateful for this recognition and look forward to continuing to make Jefferson a place that people simply want to be – whether it’s live, work, play, or visit; we hope everyone will Experience Jefferson!”
The 2025 Great American Main Street Award ceremony will be held at the opening plenary of the 2025 Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia, PA, on April 7, 2025, where three semifinalists will be recognized as recipients of the coveted honor.
