Main Street Marion receives national designation
MARION, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – Main Street Marion has been designated as a 2020 Accredited Main Street America program. The nonprofit says the accredited status signifies a “demonstrated commitment to comprehensive commercial district revitalization and proven record of successfully applying the Main Street Approach.”
Main Street Marion says it has been nationally accredited since 2013.
Accreditation criteria includes comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress and actively preserving historic buildings.
Over the past year, the Main Street Marion board says it has worked to realign itself with Main Street America and mission-driven, strategic objectives. The efforts include increasing annual donations by more than the previous five years combined and reinventing statistics collections for annual return on investment.
“Maintaining our National Accreditation membership with Main Street America is paramount to the contribution our organization makes to the Marion community. Because of it, we are able to apply for and earn more state and federal grants and access resources and expertise that will promote the success of our Downtown,” said Heidi Peterson, executive director of Main Street Marion.
Main Street Marion’s performance is evaluated by Indiana Main Street, a part of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Working with Main Street America, the organizations work to identify the local programs that meet 10 rigorous performance standards.
Main Street America is a program of the National Main Street Center and a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.