8-04-2026 4:33am

America's Main Street

Downtown Sykesville Winner of 2026 Great American Main Street Award, Maryland’s First Since 2005

Downtown Sykesville Connection in Sykesville, Maryland, is one of three winners of the 2026 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA), which recognizes communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization.

Selected by a national jury of community preservation professionals and leaders in the fields of economic development, Downtown Sykesville Connection is being recognized for transforming a once-struggling district into a fully occupied, community-driven downtown through strategic independence, inclusive leadership, and sustainable redevelopment.

Main Street America Program: Downtown Sykesville Connection
Coordinating Program: Main Street Maryland
Year Organization Founded: 2005
Population: 4,316
Public and Private Reinvestment: $6.8 million
Net New Businesses: 76
Buildings/Structures Rehabilitated: 82

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“Downtown Sykesville Connection represents the very best of the Main Street movement,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. “They didn’t just reduce vacancies or renovate buildings, they rebuilt trust. By clarifying their mission and investing in inclusive leadership, they transformed downtown into a place where businesses thrive and people feel they belong.”

Launched in 2024, the “Neighborhood Composting Champions” program guides downtown businesses and local
families to navigate food waste management effectively. Photo by Downtown Sykesville Connection.
Sykesville’s Bubbles & Tulle on Main Street event in 2021. Photo by Downtown Sykesville Connection.

With roots dating to the early 1800s as a mill town and rail stop along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Sykesville endured industrial decline, fire, and flooding. By the early 2000s, vacancy rates had climbed to 25% and public engagement had waned.

In 2017, after earning state and national Main Street designations, the program separated from the Town structure and relaunched as an independent nonprofit, Downtown Sykesville Connection, a turning point that sparked renewed trust and momentum. Today, downtown Sykesville boasts a 0% vacancy rate, and property owners regularly consult DSC on tenant recruitment and redevelopment strategy.

A defining milestone was the acquisition and rehabilitation of 7611 Main Street through a creative public-private partnership with the Town of Sykesville. The restored historic building now houses DSC’s offices, two commercial tenants, and a residential unit, generating reliable revenue while preserving the district’s character.

Inclusion is central to DSC’s approach. From ADA-compliant upgrades and accessible façade improvements to multicultural programming, youth entrepreneurship, and partnerships with historically underrepresented communities, the organization has embedded belonging into both policy and practice.

2024 Diwali celebration on the lawn of St Paul United Methodist Church in downtown Sykesville. Photo by Downtown Sykesville Connection.
Green Committee volunteers are preparing the Main Street Eileen Merkle Community Garden for winter. Photo by Downtown Sykesville Connection.

“This recognition belongs to the entire Sykesville community. Our success comes from people who chose to believe in their Main Street — residents, businesses, volunteers, and partners who showed up, shared ideas, took risks, and worked together to transform possibility into reality,” said Julie Della-Maria, Executive Director at Downtown Sykesville Connection. “By embracing the Main Street approach and focusing on human-centered revitalization, we’ve built more than a thriving downtown; we’ve cultivated a place of connection, pride, and shared ownership that continues to inspire investment and opportunity.”