The Leavenworth Main Street Program began in 1995. It follows the model of the National Main Street Program, which was developed in the 1970’s through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was designed as a “grass roots” program focusing on commercial district revitalization in both urban and rural downtown districts. The program utilizes an innovative methodology of historic preservation combined with economic development. Today a network consisting of more than 1,200 active state, city and county Main Street Programs is working to restore prosperity and vitality to downtowns and neighborhood business districts across the nation. Those programs accomplish their work through the Main Street 4 Point approach of Design, Organization, Promotion and Economic Restructuring.
