Building a Better Boyertown Receives 2010 National Main Street Program Accreditation
Boyertown, Pennsylvania June 16, 2010 —Building a Better Boyertown (BBB) has been accredited as a 2010 National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center®. Though Building a Better Boyertown joins hundreds other Main Street™ revitalization programs being recognized as 2010 National Main Street Programs in the U.S. they are only 1 0f 57 out of 100 communities in PA.
Each year, the National Trust Main Street Center and its coordinating program partners announce the list of accredited National Main Street Programs around the country that have demonstrated their ability to follow the Main Street methodology.
“We congratulate this year’s accredited National Main Street Programs for meeting our established performance standards,” says the director of the National Trust Main Street Center. “Rebuilding a district’s economic health and maintaining that success requires broad-based community involvement and support, in addition to establishing a solid organization with sound management that is committed to long-term success.”
The National Trust Main Street Center works in partnership with Coordinating Main Street Programs throughout the nation to identify the local programs that meet the National Trust Main Street Center’s ten basic performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four-Point Approach™ to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving historic buildings. For more information on the National Main Street Program accreditation, visit www.mainstreet.org/nationalprograms.
The organization’s performance was evaluated by Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC), located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which is the coordinating organization for Main Street programs in Pennsylvania.
“Boyertown has progressed significantly in the past year (2009)”, says Jake Lea, BBB’s President, “and with continual effort and perseverance of our community and volunteers 2010 will demonstrate to be even better, as we continue to enhance an already Very Special Kind of Place through joint efforts of BBB and the Borough of Boyertown.”
“Facilitating positive change and expanding on the efforts that this strong community has initiated in recent years will continue, providing opportunities for local businesses, industry and the arts.” Boyertown will continue to develop while still remaining “A place where friend and families want to be”, says Heather Oxenford BBB’s Main Street Manager.
Since 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center has helped hundreds of downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the nation reclaim the unique quality of life that only a thriving community center can provide. Through the Main Street Four-Point Approach to commercial district revitalization, which combines historic preservation and economic development, the Center has forged a nationwide movement for the revival of America's historic and traditional commercial districts. The Center provides a nationwide membership network, comprehensive on-site consulting services, in-depth seminars and conferences, technical publications and training materials, and national advocacy for commercial districts.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories. For more information, visit www.preservationnation.org. |