Downtown Evanston Recognized as a Main Street Affiliate Community in 2026

Eight communities in Wyoming received National Main Street recognition for their efforts to revitalize and grow downtown districts through the Main Street program. Downtown Evanston was among them and is recognized at the affiliate level.  

“It’s all about economic development,” says Mieke Madrid, Main Street Coordinator for the City of Evanston. “We are the boots on the ground working with small businesses downtown.”

There are about 130 businesses in downtown Evanston, and Madrid has met with many of their owners over the past four years. This affiliate recognition highlights her, the board's, and several volunteers’ hard work in engaging the community and serving them through promotion and resource sharing.

Explore downtown Evanston and learn how this community supports small business owners. 

Main Street Strives to Bring Business Downtown 

The primary goal of Downtown Evanston is to bring new and returning customers to downtown businesses. It hosts shopping events throughout the year, promotes local festivals, and showcases Evanston to audiences outside of Uinta County. This means the downtown district also plays an important role in Evanston’s tourism efforts.

“We’re the gateway to a lot of recreational areas,” says Madrid. “We’re 45 miles from Park City, Utah, and three hours away from Jackson, Wyoming. Our goal is to build lasting memories downtown, so Evanston becomes a destination, rather than a way through.”

While many downtown businesses have loyal customers in the community, tapping into Wyoming tourism allows the Main Street program to attract new shoppers and further grow local shops. This also benefits B2B businesses that act as suppliers and service providers, as they benefit from their B2C clients' success. 

Evanston Proactively Meets the Needs of Businesses

Entrepreneurs and small business owners wear countless hats, from processing payroll to developing marketing strategies. They have to become experts in all aspects of business, whether they have a team of two employees or want to expand to multiple locations. Downtown Evanston shares resources and tips with local companies, keeping them in the loop about changing trends or potential opportunities.

“We are amazed by our small business owners,” says Madrid. “They are running their businesses, taking care of families, and staying involved in community events.”

One of the most active programs supporting entrepreneurs locally is Jumpstart Evanston, which offers eight weeks of free classes to participants and culminates in a business-plan pitch competition with cash prizes. This allows people to turn ideas into viable businesses. The community also participates in Lemonade Day to inspire young entrepreneurs.

Downtown Evanston Pivoted from Membership to Sponsorship

Evanston has been part of the Main Street program for more than 20 years, but has recently made changes to better serve the community. One notable shift is a pivot away from charging membership fees toward sponsorship instead. This allows new and lower-budget businesses to engage with Downtown Evanston, while also enabling companies that want to invest in economic development to become sponsors.

“We have amazing sponsors that support us and help us do the work we do,” says Madrid. Current sponsors include:  

• Evanston Chamber of Commerce
• Evanston Regional Hospital 
• Cazin’s Ace Hardware
• First Bank of Wyoming
• Rocky Mountain Power
• Western AgCredit

These sponsors allow Downtown Evanston to maintain and expand its programs, creating new opportunities for business owners in the community. 

Evanston Worked Hard to Reach the Affiliate Level

Evanston is proud to be recognized nationally for its Affiliate status. The recognition process includes a self-evaluation, with certain reporting thresholds to meet. Reaching Affiliate status showcases the hard work of everyone involved in Downtown Evanston in the past few years.

“We did a complete refresh a few years back and have a whole new board, updated processes, and bylaws in place,” says Madrid. “We are working on a volunteer plan for the future and are happy to be an affiliate and aspire to be accredited in the coming year.”

Madrid specifically calls out her board for all of their hard work, including:

• President Brenda Richins
• Vice-President Jacque Skog
• Secretary Jennie Ellingford
• Treasurer Tori Lamb
• At-Large members Stephanie Anderson and Maggie Jones.

Madrid would also like to thank Kayla Kler, manager of Wyoming Main Street, for her continuous support.

See What Downtown Evanston Has to Offer

If you haven’t been to downtown Evanston recently, it’s time to check it out! See which businesses are growing and the impact they have on the community. Evanston also has several events throughout the year, including historical speakers at the Uinta County Museum, free concerts, and various painting and craft events.

Explore Main Street Evanston and get to know its local businesses. Grow with this community and see why more people are choosing to live – and become entrepreneurs – here.