File photo showing a row of store fronts in Avondale Estates obtained via Facebook.

By Ellie Ritter, contributor

The city of Avondale Estates was recently designated as an accredited Main Street America program for “meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center,” according to a press release from the city.

Main Street America, a branch of the National Main Street Center (NMSC), is a program that recognizes small towns, communities and urban commercial districts with “strong cultural viability” and preservation programs, according to their website.

[adsanity id=35971 align=aligncenter /]

Each year, the NMSC and its partners designate certain communities with strong preservation-based economic development and community revitalization efforts as accredited Main Street America programs.  According to the release, 828 communities were recognized this year.

“Main Streets are the heart of our communities, and the work they do to create quality public spaces, catalyze local entrepreneurship, and support downtown housing is more important than ever,” Patrice Frey, President and CEO of the NMSC, said. “Across the county, Main Street America programs truly strengthen the economic, social, and cultural fabric of their entire communities.”

The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by the Downtown Development Authority/Main Street America Board, which works with the NMSC to identify which local programs meet their performance standards. There are ten standards, including: building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking programmatic progress and actively preserving historic buildings.

The program brings more than just a name, though. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $71.35 billion in new public and private investment, generated 583,869 net new jobs and 131,974 net new businesses and rehabilitated more than 267,800 buildings, according to the release. All of those are part of each community’s revitalization efforts.

[adsanity id=35598 align=aligncenter /]

[adsanity id=28960 align=aligncenter /]