Main Street Wilmington Earns 2025 Main Street America® Accreditation — Again!

We're thrilled to announce that Main Street Wilmington, a division of Downtown Visions, has once again been designated as a Main Street America® Accredited Program — the highest national recognition awarded by Main Street America. This prestigious accreditation affirms our team’s deep commitment to preserving and revitalizing the heart of Wilmington through inclusive leadership, smart investment, and community-powered momentum.

As part of a network of over 800 Accredited programs nationwide, Main Street Wilmington is proud to stand among the best in the country when it comes to building vibrant downtowns. To earn this status, programs must meet rigorous standards in six core areas — from organizational sustainability to real-world impact — and we’re honored to have exceeded expectations.

Why This Matters

Main Street America represents a movement with over four decades of success in transforming historic downtowns into thriving economic and cultural hubs. In 2024 alone, Main Street programs nationwide spurred:

• $7.65 billion in local reinvestment

• 6,324 new businesses opened

• 33,835 jobs created

• Over 10,000 historic buildings rehabilitated

Here in Wilmington, the past year has been one of exciting growth:

• We supported over [15] new business openings in our Downtown district.

• Our team and volunteers contributed more than [2,000 hours] toward neighborhood beautification and small business outreach.

• We hosted over [20] community events — from the beloved Downtown Farmers Market to the festive Wilmington Holiday Parade — each one helping to draw residents and visitors into our vibrant commercial corridors.

“Accreditation is more than a badge — it’s proof that Main Street Wilmington is making a measurable difference,” said Lani Schweiger, Director of Main Street Wilmington. “Our team, board, partners, and volunteers work tirelessly to keep downtown clean, safe, inviting, and economically strong. We're proud to be part of a national movement that values historic preservation, community inclusion, and long-term sustainability.”

What’s Next?

We're not slowing down. Main Street Wilmington is continuing to build momentum in 2025 with new façade improvement grants, expanded programming, and stronger partnerships with local businesses and residents.

Thank you to everyone who helps us keep Downtown Wilmington moving forward — your support is what makes this possible. Help us continue this important work by contributing today at Downtown Wilm DE - Donate!

Let’s keep growing together.

Giving Tuesday: Support Downtown Visions' Transformation Campaign

Downtown Visions is the non-profit management company for Wilmington, DE’s Downtown Business Improvement District.  Its mission is to create, manage and promote a quality environment for people who live, work and visit Downtown Wilmington.

Through our various initiatives ranging from Safety Ambassadors to our Façade Improvement Program, Downtown Visions is working to show the world what an amazing place Downtown Wilmington is.

This Giving Tuesday, November 29th, we kindly ask for your support for our Transformation Campaign: a commitment to make Wilmington a cleaner, safer and more vibrant place to live, work and play. Below are the three primary ways you can support our efforts.

Sponsor

Downtown Visions offers several Corporate Sponsorship packages to companies that have an important presence in Wilmington.  These packages allow your business to reach the local consumer while simultaneously advocating Corporate Social Responsibility.

In addition to the sponsorship packages, we also provide opportunities throughout the year for you and your colleagues to network, host events, and partner in the growth of the Downtown Wilmington community.

Donate

Your donation helps us to create, manage and promote a quality environment for people who live, work and visit Downtown Wilmington.

Every dollar you donate will produce a $18 dollar return to the local economy.

You can provide support in the restoration and improvement of downtown buildings and earn permanent sponsor recognition.

Downtown Visions is a 501 C (3) non-profit #51-0362299. All contributions are completely tax deductible and qualify for community reinvestment.

Downtown Visions Holiday Small Business Initiatives

Downtown Holiday Market at DE.CO

Downtown Visions is partnering with DE.CO to bring a Holiday Market to Downtown Wilmington. The Market will run Saturday, November 26, December 3, 10 & 17 from 11am-4pm.

Patrons can expect small business vendors, DE.CO food vendors, Holiday music and window displays, entertainment, appearances from Santa and kids’ characters, face painting and more!

Free Shipping

From 10/1/22 – 12/31/22, shop online with select Downtown Wilmington, DE retailers this Holiday season and receive free shipping anywhere in the U.S., courtesy of Downtown Visions. 

Participating Downtown Retailers:
Shoe Tech Shoe Repair

Spaceboy Clothing

Three Kings Kustoms

Town & Shore Handcrafted

Al’s Sporting Goods

LaFate Gallery

Morgan’s of Delaware

Poppycock Tattoo

12 Days of Christmas

Downtown Visions encourages residents, visitors, and workers to #ShopSmall this Holiday season. From 12/1/22 – 12/12/22, many Downtown small businesses will be offering discounts and specials on unique gifts.  For more information visit wilmingtonmade.com.

Downtown Wilmington App

Recently, Downtown Visions released the Downtown Wilmington App, a one-stop shop for almost everything about Downtown Wilmington, DE. The App was created for Downtown residents, workers, and visitors to highlight dining, entertainment, events, information, parking, shopping and more in Downtown Wilmington, DE.  

To download the App search Downtown Wilm DE in the App Store or Google Play.

Downtown Visions is the non-profit management company for Wilmington, DE’s Downtown Business Improvement District.  Its mission is to create, manage and promote a quality environment for people who live, work and visit Downtown Wilmington.  For more information visit downtownwilmingtonde.com.

It's the Season of Giving. Support Downtown Visions’ Mission this Giving Tuesday.

Downtown Visions works to show the world what an amazing place Downtown Wilmington, Delaware is every day, while fulfilling its mission to create, manage, and promote a quality environment for people who live, work, and visit. During this unprecedented year, Downtown Visions remained committed to the Downtown Wilmington DE community and increased efforts to help small business owners get back to business. Downtown Visions’ Cleaning and Safety Ambassadors are essential to the district and continued working 7 days a week from 6AM to 12AM throughout the pandemic. Downtown Visions implemented new programming to encourage patrons to visit Downtown and supported small businesses, with such initiatives as Curbside Wilmington, Free Shipping and the Dine Downtown Deal. We plan to continue our mission, but we need your help to maintain our growing community now more than ever before. Please consider donating to Downtown Visions this #GivingTuesday and support our efforts to preserve, progress, and promote Downtown Wilmington!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE!

Donations can also be mailed to Downtown Visions, PO BOX 2000, Wilmington, DE 19899. Downtown Visions is a 501 C (3) non-profit #51-0362299. All contributions are completely tax-deductible and qualify for community reinvestment. Your contribution will assist in the restoration and improvement of Downtown buildings through our many initiatives. By supporting our Main Street Program, you’ll provide grants to new and existing businesses within the Business Improvement District, and fund community events throughout the year. We thank you in advance for your generosity this giving season! Contact us for more ways to support Downtown Wilmington DE and contribute to our community projects.