Main Street Matters Program – Apply by Aug 31

Posted by PA Department of Community and Economic Development on July 8, 2025

The PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is pleased to announce the opening of the Main Street Matters Program for the 2025-26 funding year. For those familiar with the Keystone Communities Program (KCP), this new Main Street Matters (MSM) program has replaced that as of last year and offers an enhanced version of that previous program.  MSM was approved for $20 million in funding in 2024-25, a large increase from the previous $6 million in competitive dollars that were available through KCP.

Overview

The Main Street Matters (MSM) program is designed to support our downtown cores and surrounding neighborhoods with tools to create healthy, vibrant, and welcoming communities. Funding is available to support revitalization efforts in planning, business support, aesthetic improvements, and the increase of safety and security.

Communities may wish to consider designation through the MSM program as a Main Street or Elm Street. Designation is an opportunity for targeted investment and development including the identification of specific needs for investment and/or development and the design and implementation of a strategy to address those needs.

PLEASE NOTE: Designation is not a prerequisite to receive funding from this grant program; only ‘Section F. Implementation Grants’ are exclusively available to designated communities, all other sub-programs are available to eligible applicants regardless of their status as a designated Main Street or Elm Street. Designation guidelines are also attached to this email.

Competitive funding applications will be received from July 1^st – August 31^st, 2025. Designation applications are rolling and accepted at any time.

Uses

A flexible tool for use in community and economic development for a variety of uses including planning activities, façade grant programs, business improvement grant programs, accessible housing programs, and district development grants.

Eligibility

• Units of local government (counties, cities, boroughs, townships, towns, and home rule municipalities)
• Redevelopment and/or housing authorities
• Nonprofit organizations to include economic development organizations, housing corporations, etc.
• Community development corporations
• Business improvement districts, neighborhood improvement districts, downtown improvement districts, and similar organizations incorporated as authorities

 Additional Information

Main Street Matters Frequently Asked Questions

Review the program guidelines for details about eligible costs, match requirements, and the application deadline and submission requirements. If you have questions about project eligibility, please reach out to DCED staff at 717.787.6245 or dced-msm@pa.gov. Additionally, all applicants are encouraged to notify their DCED Regional Office of their interest in applying.

PLEASE NOTE: For District Development Grants, projects that benefit for-profit or private sector individuals or entities are eligible as follows:

• Funding assistance for projects which benefit a for-profit or private sector entity can be conveyed through a grant, loan, or combination of a grant and a loan, with all funding required to pass through an eligible applicant to the MSM program.
• Entities which intend to apply for grant support on behalf of private or for-profit projects must receive pre-approval from DCED prior to applying for grant assist

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through DCED’s Electronic Single Application (ESA).

• For technical assistance with an application please contact the DCED Customer Service Center. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM, at 800-379-7448. Email inquiries can also be sent to ra-dcedcs@pa.gov.
• For Keystone Login Services account assistance or password resets, please contact the Keystone Global Help Desk at 877-328-0995.

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