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Main Street After COVID-19

Project Members
Enagement Method
Economics, Finance, Policy
Social Engagement
Action Area
Livelihoods
Strategic Priority
Closing the Wealth Gap
Enhancing Multi-Racial Democratic Governance

There has been a fair amount of research on what can help downtowns weather this pandemic in the short term. Financial assistance and thoughtful balancing of public health and commerce are seen as leading ways to help in the short term. However, there hasn’t been much work done on what happens next. This project is designed to answer that question, with a focus on downtown districts in small cities in the northeast USA. This project used qualitative methods including stakeholder interviews and a business survey to determine what needs will exist in the next 5-10 years and what public actions may help address those needs.

Rebuilding Main Street After COVID-19: Recommendations for and reflections from small and mid-sized American cities

A summer 2020 report on six downtown areas for small to mid-sized cities, examining their responses to the initial lockdown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and what opportunities the disruptions caused by the lockdowns offered for reimagining downtown uses, economic growth, sustainable mobility, and investment in small businesses. 

Full Report

Project Members
Enagement Method
Economics, Finance, Policy
Social Engagement
Action Area
Livelihoods