Reimagine Downtown.
Economic Vitality Initiatives.
Artisan Entrepreneurship
Morgantown is home to incredible talent, but even the most skilled makers can find the business side of art a challenge. That’s why in 2024, Main Street Morgantown, the MAC, and Bridgeway Capital joined forces to launch the Artisan Entrepreneurship Program (AEP)— an initiative dedicated to turning local creators into confident entrepreneurs. Local creatives were empowered by Bridgeway Capital’s Alliance for Creative Rural Economies (ACRE) development program combined with the connectivity of the MAC and Main Street Morgantown. Main Street Morgantown’s Artisan Entrepreneurship program was supported by generous granting from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Huntington Foundation and Truist WV Foundation.
The Retail Lab
The Retail Lab was featured in Main Street America’s 2015 “Main Spotlight,” highlighting how we’re revitalizing downtown with a hands-on retail incubator that brings together artists, entrepreneurs, students and community members.
Planning & Studies
We promote Downtown Revitalization. Main Street Morgantown actively and strategically guides the area’s revitalization, preservation, and sustainable growth, ensuring a vibrant and thriving future for our community. Contact us to learn more about studies and planning.
Downtown Safety
2023 Safety Strategy
The Main Street Morgantown Board of Directors adopted the Safety Strategy & Implementation Plan on February 15, 2023. The goal of the plan is to:
- Reduce behavior that infringes on the safety and wellbeing of all
- Support a welcoming downtown environment
- Collaborate to dismantle root causes leading to loitering, unsafe drug use, crime, and assault
The plan is a collaborative framework for advancing safety concerns within the strategic areas of:
- Public Safety
- Health & Sanitation
- Property Safety & Security
- Contribute to solving root causes negatively impacting downtown safety
Design Initiatives.
Alley Revitalization & Public Art
Art is a powerful and useful way to revitalize an area. Main Street Morgantown works to make the district welcoming and attractive by pushing for thoughtful renovations and property investment. The Alley Revitalization Initiative is a program designed to upgrade downtown alleyways by encouraging investment. This effort is key to strengthening our sense of place and unique identity. Contact us to learn more about Alley Revitalization.
Morgantown ReStored
Morgantown ReStored showcases the potential of underused spaces through creative activation.
Morgantown ReStored reinvigorates our city by creatively activating empty storefronts. We use art and history exhibits to create vibrant window displays in underused spaces. As we enliven vacant storefronts, we showcase each property’s potential and generate curiosity and interest in local art and our downtown.
Learn More & Explore Current Exhibits →
Property Owner Interest Form →
Artist & Entrepreneur Interest Form →
Promotions Initiatives.
Historic Preservation Month
During the month of May, Main Street Morgantown encourages the community to celebrate National Historic Preservation Month. Come together as communities across the country celebrate their heritage and preserve their history. Historic preservation is the practice of protecting and preserving buildings, structures and other artifacts of historical significance. This is important because our built environment is a reflection of our cultural identity and historic places provide us with a tangible link to our past.
