Fairfield Among CT Communities Chosen For Professional Development & Team-Building Program

FAIRFIELD, CT — Connecticut Main Street Center has selected Fairfield and four other communities around the state for its 2026 Main Street Accelerator Cohort.

The program drew nine applicants, the largest pool since it began in 2024, according to the nonprofit organization, which works with communities on downtown revitalization.

In addition to Fairfield, the four other communities are Deep River, Torrington, Vernon and Westbrook.

The Main Street Accelerator is a six-month professional development program that brings together local teams to work on small-scale projects aimed at strengthening downtown areas. Participants are trained in the Four Point Approach to Main Street Management, a nationally used framework, and apply it to a specific local issue.

Fairfield's participation will be led by town and Chamber of Commerce officials, in addition to representatives from cultural institutions. That team will work with other key stakeholders "to increase awareness, foot traffic, and economic activity for the newly established downtown Cultural District," according to Mark Barnhart, Fairfield's Community and Economic Development director.

The members of the Fairfield team, in addition to Barnhart, are:

• Beverly Balaz, Fairfield Chamber of Commerce President
• Michelle Cheng, Deputy Director for Programs, Fairfield Museum & History Center
• Katie Lang, Manager of Engagement Initiatives, Quick Center for the Arts
• Mary Alice Limperopulos, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Fairfield Office of Community & Economic Development
• Matt Oestreicher, Executive Director, SHU Community Theatre

"This year’s strong applicant pool reflects growing interest from communities looking to strengthen their downtowns," said Kristen Lopez, senior director of programs at Connecticut Main Street Center, in a statement.

The competitive program accepts up to five teams each year. The 2026 cohort will begin in January with a kickoff event in downtown Wallingford. The curriculum includes virtual classes, guest speakers, coaching sessions and group assignments.

Participants who complete the program may be eligible for grant funding to carry out their projects. Connecticut Main Street Center said it and its funding partners — Webster Bank, Chelsea Groton Foundation and Thomaston Savings Bank — have awarded $30,000 in grants to six teams from previous cohorts in Bethel, Bridgeport, East Hartford, Georgetown, Norwich and Thomaston.

Michelle McCabe, the organization’s executive director, said the program emphasizes collaboration as well as implementation.

"We’re looking forward to working with these communities who are taking bold steps to strengthen their downtowns," McCabe said. "Main Street Accelerator isn’t just about learning strategies—it’s about building connections and turning ideas into action. Watching teams collaborate and bring fresh energy to their Main Streets is one of the most rewarding outcomes of this program."

The Accelerator program complements the organization’s annual Main Street Management Assessment, which evaluates communities using more than 85 data points and provides recommendations for downtown improvement. Communities may use the Accelerator to address priorities identified through that assessment.

More information about the Main Street Accelerator program and the 2026 cohort is available on Connecticut Main Street Center’s website.