Preserving and Enhancing Downtown

Main Street Siloam Springs is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of historic downtown Siloam Springs. Established in 1985, it remains committed to the economic development of the Main Street area, the cooperation and leadership of the local downtown businesses, and the continued improvement of the historic character of the area. Main Street Siloam Springs is accredited by Main Street Arkansas, a branch of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. It operates with a full-time Executive Director, a half-time Director of Downtown Development and Promotion, two part-time workstudy students, an active and dedicated Board of Directors, and a range of committees and volunteers.

Main Street Siloam Springs works closely with downtown businesses and stakeholders, as well as the City of Siloam Springs, the Chamber of Commerce, and a wide range of dedicated individuals and community members to collectively develop and progress the economic stability and communal vitality of our downtown.

We’ve all seen it. Driving through America’s many cities and towns, we see main streets given over to the damage that time breeds absent care or maintenance. Buildings and streets that were once the centerpiece of civic life are vacant, waterworn or crumbling.

Here at Main Street Siloam Springs, we believe that preservation of our downtown is the best economic development tool our community possesses. We know, for example, that cities with active downtown preservation efforts more easily retain local employees and young citizens. We know that maintaining infrastructure in downtown prolongs the life of investments made over time. We know that the experience of downtown is more important today than it ever was. Downtown provides a sense of place that is difficult to replicate, and once lost is gone forever.

As a public space, downtown provides a place for people to engage with friends and neighbors. As a marketplace it promotes local business. As an historic district it holds our stories and protects our cultural assets. Through its built environment it promotes healthy lifestyle choices like walking, biking, and enjoying the natural environment. Perhaps most importantly, as a destination it promotes quality of life for all residents and potential visitors.