

Design
Supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart.
Main Street America
Academy
Dive into the Four Points of the Main Street Approach! Whether you’re new to Main Street or looking to deepen your impact, this series offers guidance you can act on right away. Start with the Point most relevant to your work — or complete the full series to see how the Four Points connect.
DESIGN | Focus on the Four Points
Design is more than decoration. It’s how people move, gather, explore, and connect in your district. This course explores how the Design point of the Main Street Approach shapes identity, honors history, and lays the groundwork for future growth. From streetscapes and signage to preservation and accessibility, design influences both how a place looks and how it works.
In this course, you’ll hear from Lisa Mullins Thompson, Senior Program Officer at Main Street America. Her insights come from years of collaborating with local leaders to turn design challenges into opportunities. This five-module learning experience will help you assess your district’s assets, collaborate on practical solutions, and communicate your design ideas with clarity and purpose.
Through case studies, scenario-based practice, and planning tools, you’ll build the skills to lead with intention, advocate with confidence, and shape a district that reflects your community’s unique character.
Design Resources
Structure
Available Resources
Buildings
Disaster and Resilience Planning
Health
Historic Resilience Project
Maps
NC State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
Preservation NC
Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings
Streets

Designated Community Design Services
Design Services
Since March of 2016, the North Carolina Main Street Program has partnered with UNCG’s Interior Architecture Department and its Center for Community-Engaged Design to provide design assistance to designated Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities across the state.
Undergraduate and graduate students are selected to become Main Street Fellows. The Main Street Fellows work with UNCG Interior Architecture Department Professors to complete facade rehabilitation designs and upper story apartment conversions in designated Main Street communities.
Eligibility Requirements:
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Available only to designated NC Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities
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Not available to Downtown Associate Communities
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Speculative projects are not eligible
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Property owners must demonstrate intent to implement the design
Contact
Amy Suggs, NCCED
Main Street Program Specialist
Email: amy.suggs@commerce.nc.gov