06/09/2026
There's a reason that every stump speech these days includes reference to the importance of "Main Street businesses" and "Mom and Pop": small businesses are both the backbone of our local economies AND are up against disadvantages that range from access to capital and banking barriers to competing for attention in an increasingly busy and corporate-dominated marketplace.
While Main Street America's recent small business survey gives reasons for metered hope, Washington's small businesses are lagging behind national averages when it comes to confidence in future success. According to this data, Washington's businesses continue to experience lower revenue and higher expenses for doing business, demonstrating that support is more critical than ever. The good news is that small businesses located in Main Street districts reported higher confidence scores than those not supported by a local Main Street organization.
Main Street is consistently a trusted resource, if not an actual lifeline, to small businesses. A 2021 study showed that businesses located in Washington Main Street districts rebounded from the pandemic at a faster rate than businesses located in similar environments but without the presence of a Main Street organization. During economic uncertainty, small businesses depend upon Main Street as a rooted and trusted connection to resources and strategy.
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Washington Main Street
