Since its founding in 1984, the Downtown Franklin Association has spear-headed the revitalization of Franklin's historic downtown according to the four-point program of the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

Organization

Design

Promotion

Economic Restructuring

Working in partnership with property owners, preservationists, city and county government, merchants, and businesses, the Downtown Franklin Association has helped create one of the nation's Main Street success stories, earning national recognition, including a Great American Main Street award. In May 1995, Franklin was honored as one of the best downtown areas in the nation when it received one of five "Great American Main Street" awards in the first year of an annual national competition.

Co-sponsored by The National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Edward D. Jones & Company, the awards recognize exceptional accomplishments in revitalizing America's historic and traditional downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.