Program coaches community leaders on revitalization tools, techniques

Program coaches community leaders on revitalization tools, techniques

Published on November 06, 2026

The City of Fort Worth is partnering with Main Street America to launch the Community Quarterback Training Program, giving local leaders an opportunity to shape the future of their neighborhoods.

Through hands-on training in organizational and community development, market strategy, small business support, promotion and fundraising, established leaders and emerging advocates participating in the program will have a chance to make an impact on their communities.

This program builds on the success of the City's work with Main Street America to establish pilot districts in two revitalization corridors - Historic Northside and Polytechnic Heights - in 2022.

"The original pilot districts provided an opportunity to lay some groundwork and build momentum in two neighborhoods in a very tailored, focused way," said Phillip Michael Smart, revitalization manager for the City of Fort Worth.

"Now, the Community Quarterback Training Program will provide an opportunity for neighborhood leaders from other areas of Fort Worth to gain hands-on experience doing the same kind of work - developing a basic framework and a core set of skills to bring people together around a shared vision for their communities."

"Over the past four years, place-based economic development and community revitalization in Fort Worth have grown into a connected, community-led movement," said Dr. Chandra Teddleton, program officer at Main Street America.

"This new cohort builds on that momentum, with a training and process designed to strengthen and support the community development ecosystem in close collaboration with both local and state partners."

Program details

Applications are now open for the first cohort of the Community Quarterback Training Program in 2027, and an application form is available in both English and Spanish on the City's Main Street webpage.

Those who are accepted into the program will attend a combination of virtual and in-person workshops one Saturday a month between January and July. The full schedule is available online.

Applications are due by Friday, Dec. 11. Individuals will be notified of their acceptance into the program by late December.

Who should apply

The ultimate goal of the Community Quarterback Training Program is to help participants gain practical tools, knowledge and confidence to serve as revitalization quarterbacks for their communities - helping rally their neighbors, call the plays and move their commercial corridors toward shared goals.

As such, its curriculum would be most impactful to leaders and advocates who are already doing organizing work in their neighborhoods, either individually or as part of larger organizations.

The program would be a good fit for business or property owners, nonprofit representatives, community development professionals, faith-based or community organization representatives, Chamber of Commerce representatives or other long-term volunteers or advocates with a demonstrated history of community involvement.

There are 35 seats available for the program, which will be filled through a competitive selection process. Priority will be given to community leaders in Fort Worth's 12 revitalization target areas:

• Altamesa & McCart
• Camp Bowie West
• Como
• East Berry
• East Lancaster
• Historic Handley
• Historic Southside
• Historic Northside
• Polytechnic Heights
• Riverside
• Stop Six
• Woodhaven

Representatives from outside of these districts will be considered based on available capacity.

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