Farmington Now a National Main Street Community

Farmington’s Downtown Development Authority was named a National Main Street Center accredited program, a prestigious designation given to only a handful of applicants participating in the historic preservation program.

The designation honors Farmington for leaders’ dedication to the preservation of history and revitalizing the community, the Observer & Eccentric reports.

“We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for their outstanding accomplishment in meeting the National Main Street Center’s performance standards,” president and CEO of the National Main Street Center, Patrice Frey said. “Accredited Main Street programs create vibrant communities by using a comprehensive strategy to preserve their historic character and revitalize their commercial districts, which helps make these great places to work, live, play and visit.”

Main Street Oakland County in conjunction with the National Main Street Center evaluates local programs based on 10 performance standards.

The evaluation process includes taking a look at which communities are creating viable public-private partnerships, preserving historic buildings, securing a budget and tracking program progress.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of our volunteers over the evaluation period. Oakland County representatives were particularly impressed with the DDA’s innovation work planning format and with accomplishments such as the Riley Park Ice Rink and Press Corps,” said Annette Knowles, the DDA’s executive director and an assistant to Farmington’s city manager.

Established in 1980 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Main Street Center was created to help revitalize community historic commercial districts.

The National Main Street Center model has been tested in more than 2,000 downtown and urban areas over the last 34 years.

More than  100,000 new businesses and 500,000 jobs have been created within participating communities and the program has made investments of over $59.6 billion.

» Click here for more information on how you can volunteer for the Farmington Downtown Development Authority.

» Find other Michigan cities on the list of nationally accredited Main Street communities.