- Main Street America, in partnership with Michigan Main Street and Main Street Oakland County, will host the conference.
- The 2027 Main Street Now Conference will run from May 3-5 in Detroit.
- More information is available at mainstreet.org/now2027.
Pontiac, Mich. – The Main Street Now Conference is coming to Detroit in May of 2027 and is poised to attract thousands of local leaders from across the country to Southeast Michigan. Main Street Oakland County will co-host the industry-leading event with Main Street America and Michigan Main Street.
"Co-hosting the Main Street Now Conference is an opportunity to showcase not only the remarkable momentum of our region, but also the innovation and leadership happening in communities across Michigan,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “We have built a national reputation for collaborative, place-based economic development, and we are excited to welcome community leaders from across the country to experience it firsthand.”
The annual conference is the largest convening of community leaders, civic officials and industry professionals working at the intersection of economic development, civic infrastructure and historic preservation in historic Main Street commercial districts. Detroit last hosted this gathering in 2014.
From May 3-5, 2027, experts in economic development, historic preservation and place management will lead dynamic professional development and network-building activities. Attendees will also have ample opportunities to engage in immersive learning experiences through mobile workshops and tours hosted by local Main Street communities.
Between sessions, attendees are expected to explore local shops, eateries and attractions in downtown Detroit and nearby Main Street Oakland County districts including Royal Oak, Oak Park, Berkley and the Great American Main Street Award-winning communities of Rochester, Ferndale and Farmington.
Details about conference themes, keynote speakers and partnership opportunities for sponsors, speakers and exhibitors are scheduled for release in the coming months. More information is available at mainstreet.org/now2027.
About Main Street Oakland County
Main Street Oakland County is an economic development program administered by the Oakland County Department of Economic Development now in its 26th year. Main Street Oakland County is the only county-wide coordinating program in U.S. and works collaboratively with local communities to strengthen downtowns and historic neighborhood corridors to foster economic vitality, preserve historic character, and encourage long-term place-based economic development. The program serves 31 designated districts in Oakland County ranging in population from 600 to 80,000. For more information, visit MainStreetOaklandCounty.com.
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 gains in jobs, 356,424 buildings rehabbed, and 41 million volunteer hours. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
About Main Street Now Conference
Main Street Now is the largest national conference of local leaders working to advance preservation-based economic opportunity in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. This annual event provides learning experiences that equip local leaders with time-tested and innovative strategies to strengthen the social, civic, and economic fabric of their communities. For more information, visit mainstreet.org/now.
