Mary Means Leadership Award Grant

Mary Means Leadership Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Main Street Center Inc.
Last Updated: November 07, 2025

Summary

The Mary Means Leadership Award, introduced by Main Street America in 2019, celebrates outstanding leaders in local Main Street organizations. This annual award recognizes the vital role of leadership in revitalizing historic downtowns and enhancing community life. Nominees must be active members of Main Street America, showcasing their commitment to community, innovation, and collaboration. The award highlights the importance of diverse leadership in advancing local economic development and preserving cultural heritage across the nation.

Overview

Main Street America Main Street America (MSA) leads an inclusive, impact-driven movement dedicated to reenergizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through place-based economic development and community preservation. We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life. Main Street America was founded in 1980 as the National Main Street Center®, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Over the past 40 years the MSA network has helped to generate over $115.27 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 345,801 buildings, create 815,894 new jobs, and start 181,647 new businesses in over 2,000 communities. Mary Means Leadership Award About the Award Since its founding, the Main Street program’s success has depended upon the vision and determination of leaders committed to community. To celebrate these directors and recognize the outstanding leadership of the Main Street program’s own founder, Main Street America introduced the Mary Means Leadership Award in 2019. Annually at the Main Street Now conference, the award is a celebration of an outstanding leader(s) per year and highlights the critical role that leadership plays in shaping the Main Street movement. The Mary Means Leadership Award nomination process will be an open call to any and all leaders at local Main Street organizations and Coordinating Programs. This campaign aims to: Showcase the importance of leadership to the Main Street movement.Provide recognition to and celebrate a diverse group of innovative Main Street leaders from across the country.Amplify local and/or state achievement at the national level.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Criteria Nominee must be currently employed by or volunteer (including Board Members) with a local Main Street America or Coordinating Program. Applicants must have an active Main Street America membership.Open nomination process - individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by others.The nominations must demonstrate how the individual:Builds local capacityLeads through strategyCenters equity in workBrings together diverse stakeholders through shared visionDemonstrates commitment to continuous learningAdvances community preservation ethic in their workExhibits innovation and ingenuitySupplemental Material: Letters of Support from local stakeholders, including Board, local officials, district business/property owners, residents, etc. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.