Our History

Serving California since 1986

$8.5 billion reinvested, 7,059 businesses opened,
34,940 jobs created, and 1,845 buildings rehabilitated.

The California Main Street Program was established in 1986 as part of a national movement to revitalize historic downtowns and commercial districts.

It was administered as a statewide program by the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency and the National Trust for Historic Preservation An initial cohort of cities were accepted into the program with more added each year. The program is a public-private partnership providing technical assistance and training to cities who follow the Main Street Approach.

In 2003, due to the budgetary crises, the Main Street Program was terminated when the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency was eliminated by the Budget Act.

In 2002, the California Main Street Alliance (CAMSA) was formed in an effort to re-establish the Main Street program. In August 2004, through the work of CAMSA, the California Preservation Foundation, and the Californians for Preservation Action, the Main Street Program was re-established within the Office of Historic Preservation (OHP).

To build greater capacity and support for the program, in 2018 the National Main Street Center partnered with CAMSA and is the current administrator of the statewide Main Street program. In 2021, the California Main Street Alliance changed its name to California Main Street (CAMS).