San Angelo's Main Street Program Among 60 Recognized Statewide

NACOGDOCHES — The Texas Historical Commission (THC) commended San Angelo Texas for successful annual progress as a designated Main Street community, one of 60 to receive the designation this year.

The Main Street program in Texas began in 1981 as one of the first state coordinating programs in the country. Local Main Street programs focus on responsibly utilizing a community’s historic assets for economic benefit and to increase quality of life. During fiscal year 2014, more than $120 million was reinvested into Texas’ 89 Main Street districts. Additionally, 352 small businesses and 1,091 jobs were created.

Main Street programs in Texas are staffed, but are reliant on volunteers to carry out the program. In 2014, Main Street volunteers reported 120,000 hours of work donated in support of the program.

“Recognizing these individual local programs through an annual accreditation process proves that Main Street’s ambitious annual goals are being achieved,”said Debra Drescher, TMSP state coordinator. “Just as importantly, it shows that in Texas and all across the country, the Main Street effort provides substantial return on investment to local communities.”

The THC’s Texas Main Street Program (TMSP) made the announcement February 20, 2015 at the winter gathering of Texas Main Street managers in Nacogdoches, a successful 17-year Texas Main Street city.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to recognize all of the staff and volunteers in our Texas Main Street program for their efforts,” said Mark Wolfe, THC Executive Director.

The TMSP will recommend its Texas selections for 2015 National Accreditation to the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Upon final approval of the Center, the national announcement for all designated Main Street programs across the country will be made at the National Main Street conference in Atlanta, Ga. March 30-April 2.

Accredited programs show above average performance in ten categories on an annual report. Selection criteria focus on planning, partnerships, staffing, volunteer effort, preservation ethic, training and program assessment through reporting. The state office also works with programs throughout the year by providing various services based upon local needs.

For additional information about the national Main Street effort, visit the National Trust Main Street web site at http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/.  For more information on the Texas Historical Commission’s Main Street program visit www.thc.state.tx.us.