PHILIPSBURG- The efforts of the Philipsburg Main Street Program over the past year has earned it recognition for commercial district revitalization by meeting standards for performance set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Each year, the National Trust and its partners announce the list of accredited programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street Four-Point Approach methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings. 2011 marks the eleventh year the Philipsburg Main Street program has received this designation.
“The national accreditation means the local Main Street program is meeting our national standards of performance for what a Main Street program should be doing,” said Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. “The organizations we name each year as National Main Street Programs are those that have demonstrated the skills and comprehensive perspective needed to succeed in Main Street revitalization.”
The annual accreditation process evaluates commercial district revitalization programs based on criteria ranging from having an active board of directors and paid professional manager to tracking economic progress and preserving historic Main Street buildings.
“Rebuilding a district’s economic health and maintaining that success requires broad-based community involvement, active support from both the public and private sectors, and sound management,: said Loescher. “Having a solid organization at the foundation of that revitalization effort is so important to long term success.”
The organization’s performance was evaluated by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, which is the coordinating organization for Main Street programs in Pennsylvania.
“We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited programs for meeting our performance standards,” said Loescher “Accredited programs are meeting the challenges of the recession head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.”
Established in 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their traditional historic commercial districts. The Main Street Center leads the preservation-based community revitalization movement and has proven that historic preservation and community-driven economic development effects lasting change.
The Philipsburg Revitalization Corporation is a non-profit charitable organization as defined in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The PRC and the Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership jointly operate the Philipsburg Main Street Program which is funded through community support of businesses and individuals. To volunteer contact the Main Street Manager at 814-342-2260 or visit www.philipsburgpa.org .