Hart Main Street achieves national accreditation

LANSING – The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) announced this week that Hart Main Street has been recognized as a Nationally Accredited Main Street community by the National Trust Main Street Center and the Michigan Main Street Center at MSHDA.

“Hart Main Street has made many efforts toward their revitalization goals using the Main Street Approach®,” said Laura Krizov, manager of the Michigan Main Street Center at MSHDA. “We are happy to recognize their program as nationally accredited this year.”

Hart Main Street is one of four Michigan Main Street communities receiving national recognition this year. The Michigan Main Street Select and Master Level communities are evaluated annually based on 10 performance standards prescribed by the National Trust Main Street Center, and eligible communities are submitted to the national level for final review.

“There are over 2,000 Main Street communities nationwide, and only about 800 of them are accredited,” said Hart Main Street Manager Ingrid Pearson. “Hart Main Street has been accredited each and every year since becoming eligible for accreditation in 2012.”

Local Main Street programs are encouraged to embrace community revitalization and economic development through organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. Recent studies show that supporting downtowns creates vibrant centers where people want to live, work and invest. The Michigan Main Street Center is part of MSHDA’s effort to create vibrant communities across the state.

“The Michigan Main Street Program provides communities with the tools needed to develop into thriving districts,” said Krizov. “These tools can be used to create jobs, attract and retain residents and investment while building a sense of place in Michigan communities.”

The Michigan Main Street Program at MSHDA provides support and improves Michigan’s downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts by promoting and implementing the Main Street Four-Point Approach® in urban and rural communities across the state. The program builds partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders and encourages historic preservation. It promotes environmentally-sustainable redevelopment and integrates communities’ cultural assets while fostering entrepreneurial development and downtown living.

For more information, visit mi main st.