Starkville, West Point and Columbus are among the Main Street communities that have been designated as accredited Main Street America program for meeting performance standards set by the National Main Street Center and the Mississippi Main Street Association.
Greater Starkville Development Partnership Director of Tourism Jenn Prather said the Partnership is proud to once again receive accreditation from the National Main Street Association.
"Our downtown truly is the core of our community and we seek to maintain its vibrancy, character and history to continue to generate economic return for our city," Prather said.
West Point Clay County Growth Alliance Director Lisa Klutts said West Point has been an accredited Main Street community since the mid-1980's.
"The accreditation allows us to receive support on the state and national level to maintain our Main Street and historic district," Klutts said. "We're a smaller community, but we understand the importance of revitalizing and maintaining our downtown area."
Other communities include: Aberdeen, Amory, Baldwyn, Batesville, Belhaven, Biloxi, Booneville, Carthage/Leake County, Cleveland, Clinton, Columbus, Corinth, Crystal Springs, Greenville, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Holly Springs, Houston, Indianola, Kosciusko, Laurel, Louisville/Noxapater, Meridian, New Albany, Ocean Springs, Okolona, Olive Branch, Pascagoula, Pass Christian, Philadelphia, Picayune, Pontotoc County, Port Gibson, Ripley, Saltillo, Senatobia, Tunica, Tupelo, Vicksburg, Water Valley and Woodville.
According to the MMSA, each year the National Main Street Center and its Coordinating Program partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs in recognition of their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.
"Receiving National Main Street accreditation is a prestigious designation and we congratulate each of these programs in Mississippi for this achievement," MMSA Board President Allison Beasley said. "Main Street programs play a strategic role in making Mississippi more competitive by stimulating local, regional and statewide economic development."
President and CEO of the National Main Street Center Patrice Frey said the organization is thrilled to honor this year's 829 nationally accredited Main Street America programs for their commitment to preservation-based economic development and revitalization of their commercial districts.
"The power of Main Street shines across the country through these vibrant communities, who have all worked to generate impressive economic returns, preserve community character and celebrate local history," Frey said.
In 2017 alone, Main Street America programs generated $4.48 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,211 net new businesses, generated 30,294 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 8,737 historic buildings, and clocked 2.7 million volunteer hours.
MMSA staff evaluate each local Main Street organization’s performance annually and works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet the 10 performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings.
In 2017, Mississippi Main Street cities generated 325 net new businesses, 95 business expansions to existing businesses, 1,458 net new jobs, 109 facade rehabilitations and 86 downtown residential units.
More than 50,337 volunteer hours were recorded. MMSA currently has 48 active Main Street programs throughout the state, five Downtown Network members, and numerous Association and Allied professional members.