City received accreditation
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on April 6, 2008 2:06 AM
Downtown Goldsboro has been accredited as a 2008 National Main Street, a program that will help the city with economic development by providing a network of resources to further the restoration and revitalization of the downtown area.
The Main Street program provides links to experts in revitalization efforts and historic preservation efforts who give advice on strategies to improve both the aesthetic appeal of the city as well as the structural bones of the buildings in the city.
To be accredited, the town or program must have community support both from public and private sectors and must have a vision for the town as well as a mission statement that will enhance community conditions.
A comprehensive Main Street work plan and an active board of directors and committees are also must-haves, as are a proactive effort toward historic preservation.
The town must have an adequate operating budget, a paid professional program manager and a program that provides ongoing training for staff and volunteers.
The final two elements for the accreditation are for the town to report key statistics on such topics such as new business, private and public investments, building rehabilitation projects and employment rates and for the town to be a current member of the National Trust National Main Street Network, a program that connects local programs to their counterparts to provide valuable information resources.