History & Preservation

Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 40 years. Today it is a network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

In January 2021, DEA became a designated Main Street Community, joining 35 other Main Streets across Washington State. The Washington State Main Street Program helps communities revitalize the economy, appearance, and image of their downtown districts using the successful Main Street Approach, a comprehensive revitalization strategy built around a community’s unique heritage and attributes.