Mayor Ed Gainey has launched Main and Main, an economic development initiative designed to strengthen business corridors in three neighborhoods: Homewood, Northview Heights, and the North Side. The program provides $25,000 grants to small businesses, technical assistance with operations and finance, and public investment in streetscape improvements. The goal is to create conditions where neighborhood businesses can thrive.
Main and Main recognizes that small businesses are infrastructure. They are where neighborhoods gather. They create employment. They define neighborhood character. When business corridors deteriorate, neighborhoods deteriorate with them. The initiative is designed to prevent that deterioration and accelerate neighborhood health.
Neighborhood Corridors as Priority
Homewood, Northview Heights, and the North Side have all experienced economic stress. Business corridors have struggled. The Main and Main initiative is Mayor Gainey's bet that targeted investment and small business support can reverse that trajectory. The grant size is modest, but the impact can be significant when multiplied across many businesses.
"Small businesses are the heartbeat of neighborhoods. They deserve support and investment."
Mayor Ed Gainey
The streetscape component is equally important. Improved lighting, traffic calming, sidewalk repairs, and public art make corridors feel safer and more attractive. These public improvements complement private business investment.
Applications for the Main and Main grants opened in March 2026, with awards expected by summer.