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Milledgeville Main Street/ Downtown Development Authority has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards.
Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of accredited programs to recognize exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.
“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 862 Accredited Main Street America programs, and their steadfast dedication to nurture economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, interim president & CEO of Main Street America. “The increase in the size and impact of our network speaks volumes to the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of local communities and drive innovative solutions.”
In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support operations, it generated $24.07 of new investment back into their downtown communities.
Collectively, 2 million people live or work within the boundaries of designated Main Street America districts. An estimated workforce of 1.1 million people contribute their skills and expertise to advancing the missions of these historic downtowns and commercial corridors.
Milledgeville Main Street/ Downtown Development Authority’s performance is annually evaluated by Georgia Main Street, which works in partnership with Main Street America, to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. To qualify for Accreditation status, communities must meet a set of rigorous standards that include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.
Milledgeville Main Street/ Downtown Development Authority provides events for the community, support and promotion for small businesses and has vision for development projects. The staff and board of directors strives to create a vibrant and attractive destination that inspires investment.
“As the director here for almost 13 years, I am well aware of the hard work required to continue receiving our accreditation each year. I also realize that the work never ends and there will always be more projects, programs, and promotions to be done downtown. This accreditation means we are doing things right and as long as I’m here, we will continue to strive for more,” said Carlee Schulte, director of Milledgeville Main Street.
– Contributed