Announcing 2026 Nationally Accredited Main Street Communities in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (May 13, 2026) – The following Main Street communities in Mississippi have been designated as Nationally Accredited Main Street programs for meeting rigorous performance standards.

Each year, Main Street America and the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

The 2026 Accredited Main Street Communities in Mississippi include:

Aberdeen, Amory, Baldwyn, Batesville, Biloxi, Booneville, Cleveland, Clinton, Columbia, Columbus, Corinth, Crystal Springs, Itawamba County, Greenville, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Laurel, Leake County, Louisville, Meridian, Moss Point, Natchez, Nettleton, New Albany, Ocean Springs, Okolona, Pascagoula, Pass Christian, Pearl, Philadelphia, Picayune, Pontotoc, Ripley, Saltillo, Senatobia, Starkville, Tunica, Tupelo, Vicksburg, Water Valley, and West Point.

Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation — Affiliate and Accredited. These designations are a powerful advocacy tool, signaling to local stakeholders, as well as city, state, and national funders, that a Main Street program has an established position within a nationwide movement with a 45-year proven track record of generating impressive economic returns, building local capacity, creating welcoming and inviting communities, and creating lasting impact. 

“Main Street America is proud to recognize this year’s 1,291 designated Main Street programs for the unwavering commitment and the unique abilities of thousands of individuals to respond to the needs of their communities,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO at Main Street America. “The incredible collective impact of these programs demonstrates the power of the Main Street movement to build vibrant spaces and durable economies by investing in the people and places that make their districts special.” 

In addition, Byhalia, Indianola, Sumrall and Woodville were recognized among the Main Street America Affiliate programs in recognition of their commitment to creating meaningful improvements in downtowns and commercial districts across the country using the Main Street Approach™.

MMSA Board President Dr. Kelle Barfield emphasized, “Transformation starts with great ideas and best intentions, but what sets these towns apart is the energy and commitment they have to setting a standard and implementing Main Street pillars of organization, promotion, design, and economic vitality. The conviction of these Mississippi community leaders paves the way for economic success across our state.”

The MMSA staff evaluate each local Main Street organization’s performance annually and work in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards.

These standards provide the Main Street America network with a strong foundational framework to review progress, recognize strengths, understand trends, and identify strategies that 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.

Additionally, in 2025, Main Street America programs generated an impressive economic impact, including more than 6,900 new businesses, 10,623 historic buildings rehabilitated, and a record-breaking $9.4 billion in local reinvestment.

“Mississippi Main Street works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that are committed to comprehensive revitalization and achieving meaningful community outcomes," said Jeannie Waller Zieren, MMSA Executive Director. "We congratulate all of our nationally accredited and affiliate programs and remain committed to assisting every community on their revitalization journey to achieve the highest recognition." 



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Mississippi Main Street Association is the catalyst for the preservation and economic revitalization of Mississippi’s historic downtowns and traditional commercial districts. As a Main Street America™ Coordinating Program, MMSA is one of more than 40 Coordinating Programs and leads member communities in Mississippi that are committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1993, MMSA has provided more than $7 billion in public and private re-investment back into Main Street communities. For more information, visit msmainstreet.com.

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™. The network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.