ROCK SPRINGS MAIN STREET/URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY (URA) DESIGNATED AS A 2025 ACCREDITED PROGRAM BY MAIN STREET AMERICA
The Rock Springs Main Street/URA has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of designated programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation — Affiliate and Accredited. These designations are a powerful advocacy tool, signaling to local stakeholders, as well as city, state, and national funders, that a Main Street program has an established position within a nationwide movement with a 45-year proven track record of generating impressive economic returns, building local capacity, creating welcoming and inviting communities, and creating lasting impact.
“Main Street America is proud to recognize this year’s 821 Accredited Main Street America programs for their commitment to building strong and vibrant communities,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. “Their tireless efforts show what’s possible when engaged leaders work together to shape places that reflect the people they serve. The continued impact of our network shows that the Main Street movement remains a powerful force for positive transformation.”
The Rock Springs Main Street/URA’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and Wyoming Main Street which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.
These standards provide the Main Street America network with a strong foundational framework to review progress, recognize strengths, understand trends, and identify strategies that move Main Street programs forward. To quality for Accredited status—Main Street America’s top designation tier—communities must demonstrate a proved track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach and exceptional performance in six areas: broad-based community commitment to revitalization; inclusive leadership and organizational capacity; diversified funding and sustainable program operations; strategy-driven programming; preservation-based economic development; and demonstrated impact and results.
In 2024, Main Street America programs generated $7.65 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,324 new businesses, facilitated the creation of 33,835 new jobs, rehabilitated 10,126 historic buildings, and logged 1.9 million volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, $21.73 was reinvested into their downtown and commercial corridor communities.
In 2024, Rock Springs Main Street/URA made significant strides, despite it being a year of transition.
Several longtime businesses, including Bitter Creek Brewing and Sidekicks Book Bar, closed their doors—but 15 new businesses opened in their place, creating nearly 40 new jobs and injecting fresh energy into Downtown. More than $367,000 in private investment and $243,000 in public investment were made across 23 projects in the district. Additionally, volunteers contributed 3,564.5 hours, valued at over $70,000.
The agency also celebrated creative placemaking projects, including a refreshed Art Underground Gallery with 30+ new pieces, and the launch of Christmas Around the World featuring 56 life-sized Santas honoring Rock Springs’ international roots.
The Wyoming Blocks Grant focused revitalization efforts on the 700 block of Pilot Butte Ave, home to a growing Latino business community. Through community cleanups, façade improvements, and the launch of the Clean Team, this pilot project removed more than 5,100 pounds of trash and created stronger connections with local businesses and visitors.
Meanwhile, the Broadway Theater continued to thrive, undergoing major upgrades thanks to grants from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund. The venue hosted dozens of performances, supported four local theater companies, and contributed to the city’s economy—supporting the equivalent of 11 full-time jobs and generating over $36,000 in government revenue, per data from Americans for the Arts.
“This accreditation affirms the incredible work being done in Downtown Rock Springs,” said Chad Banks, Manager of the Rock Springs Main Street/URA. “From beautification efforts to economic growth, we’re proud of the collaborations that made 2024 a year of progress, even amid change. We’re grateful to our volunteers, sponsors, and City partners for their continued support.”
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ABOUT ROCK SPRINGS MAIN STREET/URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY
The Rock Springs Main Street/URA is committed to revitalizing Downtown Rock Springs through historic preservation, economic development, and community engagement. Working with partners across sectors, the URA fosters a vibrant, thriving downtown for residents, businesses, and visitors. Learn more at www.downtownrs.com.
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. Since 1980, the Main Street Movement has resulted in $115.42 billion reinvested locally, 181,647 net new businesses, 815,895 net new jobs, 345,801 buildings rehabilitated, and 37.3 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
