Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has announced a $20 million investment through the Main Street Matters program to support small businesses and revitalize downtown areas. The initiative, revealed at the 2025 National Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia, has already received over 200 applications totaling more than $43 million, as per PAcast.
The Main Street Matters program, managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), will fund 81 community projects aimed at boosting local economies and strengthening community ties. Governor Shapiro has also proposed an additional $20 million for the program in the 2025-26 state budget.
"Every community in our Commonwealth rural, urban, or suburban has a Main Street, and I've seen firsthand how critical they are to local economies," Shapiro said in a statement obtained by PAcast. "Our Main Streets are the beating hearts of our communities and the economic strength of our towns and cities is directly tied to the success of small businesses and our Main Streets. That's why my Administration has made investing in our Main Streets a priority, and today we're delivering a historic amount of support for dozens of projects across the Commonwealth. Every Main Street matters and I'll continue bringing people together to invest in and improve our communities."
