With the generous support of U.S. Bank, the National Main Street Center's education and professional development program, the Main Street America Academy, is offering a tailored learning opportunity to Main Street managers and community revitalization professionals from our nationwide network. Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street is designed to help you achieve economic vitality goals in your community through a focus on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, or a strong community support network for business owners. 

Scholarship Opportunity:  

About & Eligibility: As part of U.S. Bank's sponsorship, a limited number of scholarships (20 total) providing registration at a reduced rate of $100 are available to participants serving communities located within U.S. Bank markets. Communities must be located within 20 miles of a U.S. Bank location to be considered, with special priority given to participants serving districts located in the states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. 

Application & Awards: Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants will receive determinations by Monday, May 11, 2026 by 5 pm CT. Scholarship recipients will receive a discount code to use at registration. Eligible and interested participants are encouraged to submit scholarship applications as soon as possible and before registering for the course. The application will close on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CT, or when all scholarships have been awarded.  

The May 2026 Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street Course: Live sessions held Thursdays, May 14, 21, and 28 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, CT.

Generously sponsored by U.S. Bank, the 2026 May Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street Course will focus on one of the most important—and often most complex—relationships shaping downtown and neighborhood commercial districts: the intersection between property owners and small business owners.

Learning Objectives:  

• Use property and small business inventory data to identify market conditions, uncover opportunities, and inform coordinated decision-making across economic development, preservation, and placemaking efforts. 
• Explore practical strategies for building trust with property owners, navigating challenging conversations, and positioning Main Street programs as effective intermediaries between owners and tenants. 
• Identify pathways and tools that support transitions from tenant to property ownership, including benefits, barriers, and community strategies that promote local ownership and economic vitality.  

This course is led by Main Street America's Manager of Instructional Design, Casie Cameron, and features instruction from Main Street America staff, including: 

Maggie Gillespie, Manager of Innovation

Lisa Mullins Thompson, Senior Program Officer 

Joi Cuartero Austin, Senior Program Officer, Economic Vitality 

 FAQ 

Why should I participate in this course? 

If Economic Vitality is on your mind, this is the Main Street course for you. This specialized learning experience, supported by U.S. Bank, will give you new insights, tools, and strategies to foster entrepreneurship, support small business owners, and retain local businesses. Without small businesses, Main Streets don't exist. After the course, Academy staff will stay in contact to assist with any further professional development needs.     

What is the cost of the course if I don't receive a scholarship? The member price for this course without a U.S. Bank funded scholarship would be $275.00.  The non-member price is $350.

The Hartford Small Business Virtual Accelerator Summer 2026 cohort, hosted on Main Street America’s Small Business Hub, will bring 30 small-scale producers, makers, artisans and creators together for a summer of facilitated and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.  

This high-impact, hybrid learning experience is designed to help entrepreneurs scale operations, expand e-commerce, and increase sales. Through expert-led sessions, practical self-paced courses, and powerful peer connections, participants gain the tools and strategies needed to turn production capacity into measurable revenue growth. 

The 12-week Virtual Accelerator Cohort will run from June 2 to August 21, 2026.  

Eligibility Criteria: 

- the business owner must be a small-scale producer, manufacturer, maker or creator that makes or finishes a product in the United States 

- the business owner is available and willing to dedicate at least 1-2 hours per week to the  learning and peer community 

- the business owner is ready to scale one or more areas of their business 

- the business owner must be nominated by a Main Street accredited or affiliate program  

- the business owner signed a commitment letter to complete the Accelerator Program 

* Small-Scale producers will be able to self-nominate but priority will be given to small-scale producers that are referred by Main Street programs.