The Illinois Main Street Program promotes preservation-based downtown revitalization. Based on a national model, the program provides training and technical assistance to participating communities through educational workshops and on-site consultation. Design services are available through a cooperative agreement with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs with oversight by the lieutenant governor.
Towns pay no membership fee but are responsible for financially supporting their local program.
The Main Street program represents one of the state's most effective public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal. Originally, only towns with populations under 50,000 were eligible to participate. Strong interest from community leaders led to the program's expansion in 1995 to include the Chicago suburban area. Although the city of Chicago administers its own Main Street program, those participants are also invited to attend state Main Street conferences and workshops. Local Main Street activities put a smile on the faces of community residents and bring potential customers to downtown businesses.