8/9/2011
West Virginia’s 12 Main Street communities have earned certification as accredited National Main Street Programs for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center®.
Each community must be accredited each year to maintain its official Main Street designation.
Being a designated Main Street program gives the community access to Main Street West Virginia resources and training to protect historic buildings and revitalize commercial districts.
“A vigorous downtown commercial district can bolster small businesses, revitalize communities and strengthen local economies,” said Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. “Through Main Street, West Virginia can equip communities with the resources and training they need to rejuvenate downtown commercial space and infrastructure, sustain the success of existing businesses and provide innovative new businesses the perfect place for a startup.”
The 12 West Virginia Main Street communities are: Charleston East End Main Street; Charleston West Side Main Street; Main Street Fairmont; Main Street Kingwood; Mannington Main Street Inc.; Main Street Martinsburg; Main Street Morgantown; Philippi Main Street; Inc.; Main Street Point Pleasant; Main Street Ripley; Ronceverte Main Street; and Main Street White Sulphur Springs.
To earn accreditation, a community must meet 10 performance standards set as benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization. The four-point approach covers organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. The 10 standards include developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving historic buildings.
Main Street West Virginia
Main Street West Virginia, a program of the West Virginia Development Office, focuses on economic revitalization of historic commercial districts by providing technical services, design assistance, and continuous training of board/committee members and program managers using the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Four-Point Approach®. The Four-Point Approach includes comprehensive work in organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. Main Street West Virginia provides a liaison between various state agencies and organizations with the designated communities.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit 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, D.C., eight regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, 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.
Contact Information
Marsha Humphrey
304-558-2234
marsha.a.hmphrey@wv.gov