About Us
Creating the vision. Working together. Making it happen.
Rochester Main Street is an economic development and historic preservation program - a volunteer-based nonprofit enhancing downtown Rochester through improvement projects, events, and community engagement.
Our vision
Rochester Main Street is devoted to restoring, preserving, enhancing, and promoting the beauty, vitality, and historic heritage of downtown Rochester. We actively engage local businesses, organizations, property owners, residents, and local government to make downtown a safe, vibrant, exciting place to work, shop, live, and play - not just for today, but for generations to come.
We value downtown as the heart of our community: a friendly, progressive, inviting place where development respects the environment and Rochester keeps its small-city charm. Through ongoing preservation, our historic buildings will house a healthy blend of commercial, residential, and civic uses while showcasing the city's architectural heritage.
We believe our shared enthusiasm and can-do attitude will keep inspiring volunteers from every corner of the community to join the revitalization of downtown Rochester.
A national program, run by neighbors
We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit guided by a volunteer board of directors, and a member of the national Main Street program through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Our goal: promote a positive image of downtown by preserving its unique historic character, strengthening its economic base, and keeping downtown the center of community activity.
Our district
To concentrate our efforts where they have the most impact, the board refined our district boundaries in April 2025. Our primary projects focus within the defined downtown district - both sides of every street within it - while we continue to support initiatives across the broader downtown community.
The four-point approach
Our work is organized into four committees - Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization.
Meet the committeesAbout the organization
What is a Main Street organization?
Main Street organizations are local nonprofits affiliated with Main Street America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. They revitalize historic downtowns using a proven four-point approach: Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization.
Is Rochester Main Street part of the city government?
No. Rochester Main Street is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by a volunteer board of directors. We partner closely with the City of Rochester, but we are community-run and community-funded.
How is Rochester Main Street funded?
Through donations, sponsorships starting at $75, the Contributing Partners program, fundraisers like the Festival of Trees and Guilty of Giving, and charitable gaming partnerships. Contributions are tax-deductible.
What area does Rochester Main Street serve?
Our refined district (updated April 2025) concentrates our projects in the core downtown, covering both sides of each street within the district boundaries - while we continue to support and advocate for the broader downtown community.
