This highest national designation recognizes McPherson Main Street’s exceptional commitment to community-based revitalization and positive local impact
McPHERSON, Kan. (May 7, 2026) — McPherson Main Street has been designated as a 2026 Accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the roster of designated programs in recognition of their commitment to creating meaningful improvements in their downtowns through preservation-based economic development and community revitalization using the Main Street Approach™.
“We are proud to recognize McPherson Main Street as a 2026 Accredited Main Street America program for your unwavering commitment to grassroots transformation and the extraordinary abilities of your staff, board of directors, and volunteers to respond to the needs of their community,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO at Main Street America. “McPherson Main Street demonstrates a dedication to investing in the people and places that make your downtown district special and contribute to the collective power of the Main Street movement to build vibrant spaces and durable economies.”
McPherson Main Street is one of 838 nationally recognized Accredited Main Street America organizations and is a part of a network of over 1,600 communities leading positive commercial district transformation efforts throughout the United States.
Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation — Accredited and Affiliate. These designations are a badge of excellence and a powerful tool, signaling to community members, civic leaders, decision makers, funders, and others that the Main Street program holds an established position within a nationwide movement with a 45-year proven track record of generating transformative economic returns, fostering welcoming and inviting communities, and creating lasting positive impact.
McPherson Main Street’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, Kansas Main Street, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.
These standards provide the Main Street America network with a strong framework for reviewing progress, recognizing strengths, understanding trends, and identifying strategies to move Main Street programs forward.
To qualify for Accredited status—Main Street America’s top designation tier—communities must demonstrate a proven track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach and exceptional performance in six areas: broad-based community commitment to revitalization; inclusive leadership and organizational capacity; diversified funding and sustainable program operations; strategy-driven programming; preservation-based economic development; and demonstrated impact and results.
In 2025, Main Street America programs generated $9.4 billion in local reinvestment, welcomed 6,936 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 36,549 net new jobs, rehabilitated 10,623 historic buildings, and leveraged 1.8 million volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar a Main Street program spent on operations, $23.13 was reinvested in its downtown district.
“Receiving the 2026 Accredited Main Street designation is a reflection of the momentum and collaboration happening throughout our community. In 2025, McPherson Main Street partnered with Ad Astra Radio to launch the ‘Ad Astra Cares: Main Street Matters’ segment, highlighting the people, businesses, and events that make McPherson special. We also brought 18 events to the community, partnered with KWCH to create the Hometown Pride Commercial Group Ads for member businesses at a discounted rate, and secured several impactful grants and partnerships. These included a $2,500 McPherson County Community Foundation Community Block Grant to provide free movies on the Plaza, a $100,000 HEAL Grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce to support rural downtown revitalization, and a $25,000 grant from the McPherson Rotary Club for new Plaza shade structures. In addition, four Convention & Visitors Bureau grants helped support local shopping initiatives through events and promotions. These accomplishments demonstrate the continued investment in strengthening our downtown community”
— Executive Director, Johni Doughman
About McPherson Main Street
McPherson Main Street works to strengthen downtown McPherson as the heart of the community. Through economic development, historic preservation, business support, and community events, the organization creates experiences that bring people together while building a vibrant district that benefits residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
About Main Street America
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Today, the network includes more than 1,600 communities across the country working to build stronger places through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, the Main Street movement has resulted in $124.67 billion reinvested locally, 188,583 net new businesses, 852,443 net gain in jobs, 356,424 buildings rehabbed, and 41 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
