Astoria Downtown Historic District Association Announced as 2027 Great American Main Street Award Semifinalist
Main Street America has announced Astoria Downtown Historic District Association (ADHDA) as a 2027 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) semifinalist. This prestigious award is the nation’s top award recognizing communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization.
A jury of professionals and leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic preservation convened to review a nationwide pool of applicants. After thoughtful deliberation, the jury unanimously selected eight semifinalists that demonstrate exemplary use of the Main Street Approach™ to lead community-based transformation strategies in their downtowns.
The 2027 Great American Main Street Award semifinalists are:
Center City of Amarillo, Inc. – Amarillo, Texas
Astoria Downtown Historic District Association – Astoria, Oregon
Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. – Excelsior Springs, Missouri
Connect Downtown Johnson City – Johnson City, Tennessee
Village of Lake Orion DDA – Lake Orion, Oakland County, Michigan
Montpelier Alive – Montpelier, Vermont
Mainstreet Oceanside – Oceanside, California
Sapulpa Main Street – Sapulpa, Oklahoma
“The 2027 Great American Main Street Award Semifinalists are proud examples of the deep and lasting impact that Main Street programs can have on communities,” said Main Street America President and CEO Erin Barnes. “From reimagining after decline to rebuilding after natural disasters, these communities demonstrate the power of resilience, vision, and meaningful community engagement.”
Collectively, the 2027 GAMSA semifinalists have generated over $2.1 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 1,271 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 7,607 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 2,411 historic buildings, and leveraged 252,493 volunteer hours.
Competing for the Great American Main Street Award is a significant achievement in the Main Street Movement, and receiving the award is an esteemed honor. Since its establishment in 1995, only 118 of over 2000 Main Street programs have been acknowledged as GAMSA-winning communities.
"Being a semifinalist for the Great American Main Street Award is an enormous honor," says ADHDA Executive Director Quinn Haase. "Being named a semifinalist two years in a row now just speaks to the commitment the community of Astoria has made towards a preservation-based approach to revitalization. The work itself is the reward, but it is reaffirming to know that our efforts do not go unnoticed."
ADHDA is a member of the Oregon Main Street (OMS) Network, the state coordinating program of Main Street America that supports communities in preserving and enhancing their historic downtowns. As one of Oregon’s longest‑serving Main Street organizations, ADHDA has become a model for place-based revitalization that strengthens local economies and honors authentic heritage.
“We are incredibly proud of ADHDA’s leadership in preservation‑based revitalization," says Oregon Main Street Coordinator Ami Keiffer. “Their dedication to community engagement and strengthening Astoria’s historic downtown exemplifies the best of the Main Street spirit. Being named a semifinalist reflects the hard work, collaboration, and creativity happening in Astoria every day, and Oregon Main Street is excited to support and celebrate them in this national spotlight.”
The 2027 Great American Main Street Award ceremony will be held at the opening plenary of the 2027 Main Street Now Conference in Detroit, Michigan, on May 3, 2027, where three semifinalists will be recognized as recipients of the coveted honor.
ABOUT THE ASTORIA DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT ASSOCIATION
For the past 40 years, the ADHDA (previously the Astoria Downtown Development Association) has been a faithful steward of the downtown and has strived to keep the unique culture and character of Astoria at the forefront. From the creation of outlandish events such as the Jane Barnes Revue and the Sea Lion Calling Contest, from our work in bringing almost $1 million in restoration grant dollars to our downtown buildings, to our running of community programs such as the Astoria Sunday Market and Artwalk, our commitment to the continued success of downtown Astoria is apparent in every bit of the work we do. For more information, visit www.astoriadowntown.com.
ABOUT THE GREAT AMERICAN MAIN STREET AWARDS
The Great American Main Street Award program recognizes communities exemplifying the use of the Main Street Approach™ to revitalize commercial districts. Winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a jury of Main Street professionals and leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic preservation. Since the award’s inception in 1995, over 110 Main Street programs have been honored as GAMSA communities. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
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™. Our network of more than 1,600 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.
ABOUT OREGON MAIN STREET
Oregon Main Street (OMS) partners with communities across the state to strengthen local economies, honor historic character, and foster vibrant, resilient downtowns. OMS is within Oregon Heritage at the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, and provides technical assistance, training, and a statewide network of support to communities of all sizes working to build vibrant, resilient commercial districts. Grounded in the Main Street
Approach™, the program empowers local leaders to celebrate heritage, foster economic vitality, and create welcoming places for all. More than 100 Oregon communities participate at various levels of the network, each demonstrating a shared commitment to preserving what makes Oregon’s downtowns unique. A 2022 Impact of Oregon’s Main Streets report found that between 2011 and 2021 Oregon Main Street communities helped generate $266 million in additional sales revenue in the State of Oregon and 2,400 jobs. For more information, visit www.oregonmainstreet.org.
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