In 1985, California joined a growing national movement to improve the quality of life in America's towns, cities, and neighborhoods by restoring the economic health of Main Streets -- historic, traditionally designed business districts that have long served as the heart of their surrounding communities. The California legislature created the California Main Streets Program in the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency to serve as a networking and information resource for local Main Street programs throughout the state. Throughout its existence California Main Street has provided the initiative for community stakeholders to come together and establish organization and leadership toward the revitalization of their Main Streets.

The purpose of California Main Street is to educate and provide assistance to California communities about how they can revitalize their downtowns or core commercial districts using the self-help Main Street Four-Point Approach. Through this education on how traditional downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts can become and remain vital economic, social, and cultural centers, the community's development leads to livable and sustainable practices that ultimately improve its quality of life.

Since 1986, 70 communities have participated in the California Main Street program. Twenty-nine communities are currently active in the California Main Street program and officially certified as California Main Street communities. California Main Street has received awards from the Local Government Commission in achievement for promoting the Ahwahnee Principles of pedestrian-transit oriented development and from the California Healthy Cities Project in promoting healthy cities and livability in California communities.

Nationwide, Main Street programs have generated $15.2 billion in public and private reinvestment, 52,000 net new businesses, 206,000 net new jobs, and 79,000 building rehabilitations since 1980.