N. Oregon Coast's Downtown Astoria Is Semifinalist in National Award

Published 10/09/2026 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) – A prime and primo part of one Oregon coast town is making the grade and gaining a little more fame for itself. Main Street America has named the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association (ADHDA) a semifinalist for the 2027 Great American Main Street Award, the organization’s top national honor recognizing excellence in preservation-based commercial district revitalization.

The organization is comprised of a national jury made up of community development, economic development, and historic preservation professionals, who reviewed applications from across the country before unanimously selecting eight semifinalists. Each demonstrated strong use of the Main Street Approach™ to guide long-term, community-driven revitalization in their downtowns.

The 2027 semifinalists are Center City of Amarillo, Inc. in Amarillo, Texas; Astoria Downtown Historic District Association in Astoria, Oregon; Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. in Excelsior Springs, Missouri; Connect Downtown Johnson City in Johnson City, Tennessee; Village of Lake Orion DDA in Lake Orion, Michigan; Montpelier Alive in Montpelier, Vermont; Mainstreet Oceanside in Oceanside, California; and Sapulpa Main Street in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

“The 2027 Great American Main Street Award semifinalists are proud examples of the deep and lasting impact that Main Street programs can have on communities,” said Main Street America President and CEO Erin Barnes. “From reimagining after decline to rebuilding after natural disasters, these communities demonstrate the power of resilience, vision, and meaningful community engagement.”

Altogether, this year’s semifinalists have generated more than $2.1 billion in local reinvestment, the organization said. They supported the opening of 1,271 net new businesses, helped create 7,607 net new jobs, spurred the rehabilitation of 2,411 historic buildings, and logged more than 252,000 volunteer hours.

Since the award’s creation in 1995, only 118 of more than 2,000 Main Street programs have earned the GAMSA designation, making semifinalist status a significant milestone in the Main Street movement.

In the Oregon coast town, the pride is running deep for this accolade.

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“Being a semifinalist for the Great American Main Street Award is an enormous honor,” said ADHDA Executive Director Quinn Haase. “Being named a semifinalist two years in a row now just speaks to the commitment the community of Astoria has made toward a preservation-based approach to revitalization. The work itself is the reward, but it is reaffirming to know that our efforts do not go unnoticed.”

ADHDA is part of the Oregon Main Street Network, the statewide coordinating program that supports communities in preserving and strengthening their historic downtowns. As one of Oregon’s longest-serving Main Street organizations, ADHDA has become a model for place-based revitalization rooted in local heritage.

“We are incredibly proud of ADHDA’s leadership in preservation-based revitalization,” said Oregon Main Street Coordinator Ami Keiffer. “Their dedication to community engagement and strengthening Astoria’s historic downtown exemplifies the best of the Main Street spirit. Being named a semifinalist reflects the hard work, collaboration, and creativity happening in Astoria every day, and Oregon Main Street is excited to support and celebrate them in this national spotlight.”

The 2027 Great American Main Street Award winners will be announced May 3, 2027, during the opening plenary of the Main Street Now Conference in Detroit, where three semifinalists will receive the national honor.

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