PENNSYLVANIA — While artificial intelligence rattles white-collar workplaces and fuels anxiety in boardrooms, a new national survey suggests a steadier mood on Main Street—where business owners say human connection, not automation, still anchors their future.
A study by Advance Funds Network, based on responses from 3,012 storefront business owners, ranks the most confident Main Street corridors in America heading into 2026. The results reveal a sharp divide between corporate unease and the outlook among brick-and-mortar operators whose livelihoods depend on face-to-face service.
Florida cities dominated the top of the list, led by West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando, followed by New Orleans, Oceanside and Pasadena, California. Survey respondents in those markets cited repeat customers, personal service and experience-driven demand as buffers against technological disruption.
Pennsylvania placed two cities on the confidence map. Allentown ranked 33rd nationally, the highest in the state, with owners pointing to essential services and long-standing community relationships as sources of stability. Pittsburgh followed at 41st, where storefront operators said decades of economic transitions have left them better prepared to adapt again.
Across the survey, business owners overwhelmingly identified human-centered strengths as their competitive edge. Personal, face-to-face service and local loyalty topped the list, followed by community trust and work that cannot be automated. When asked what artificial intelligence would struggle most to replace, respondents pointed to customer relationships, skilled physical work and hands-on management.
Optimism, however, was measured. Only about a quarter of owners said they expect to thrive and expand over the next two years. Most anticipate holding steady or struggling but surviving, reflecting lingering economic pressures even as confidence in their core business model remains intact.
“What this study shows is that Main Street confidence isn’t about ignoring change—it’s about understanding where technology helps and where it simply can’t replace human connection,” said Irving Betesh, the company’s chief revenue officer.
Despite caution about the road ahead, belief in Main Street’s cultural role ran high. Nearly all respondents said local businesses are essential or very important to the identity of their towns—an attachment that researchers say may be as valuable as any balance-sheet advantage as small businesses navigate an economy being reshaped by machines.
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