The Main Street Four Point Approach was conceived in 1977 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C., and tested in three pilot locations throughout the United States.

In 1985, the Iowa Legislature adopted the National Main Street Center's approach to downtown revitalization by approving the establishment of Main Street Iowa within the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

The mission of the Main Street Iowa Program is to improve the social and economic well-being of Iowa's communities by assisting selected communities to capitalize on the unique identity, assets and character of their downtown area. Main Street is economic development within the context of historic preservation.