Fourteen Main Street New Jersey Communities Receive 2010 National Main Street Accreditation
Communities Meet National Performance Standards for Downtown Revitalization

TRENTON - Fourteen Main Street New Jersey communities have been accredited as 2010 National Main Street Programs for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. The communities include Boonton, Bridgeton, Hammonton, Highland Park, Lawrenceville, Millville, Montclair, Newton, Salem, Somerville, South Orange, Vineland, Westfield and West Orange.

"This prestigious national recognition demonstrates the commitment these communities have to strengthening their downtown districts. They recognize that revitalizing the traditional cores of their villages, towns and cities helps foster economic development," said New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa. "I commend the local public and private-sector leaders, merchants, and dedicated volunteers for the contributions they've made to their respective communities. Without their hard work, this national accreditation would not be possible."

The DCA's Main Street New Jersey program partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center to evaluate each of the 26 designated Main Street communities in the state and identify which ones met the 10 performance standards required for national accreditation. The standards include such criteria as strong support from the public and private sectors; relevant vision and mission statements; a comprehensive Main Street work plan; a historic preservation ethic; an adequate operating budget; and an ongoing training program for staff and volunteers.

"We encourage all of our designated communities to work toward accreditation because in doing so they are building vibrant, sustainable downtown districts," said Jef Buehler, Director of the Main Street New Jersey and Improvement District Programs at the DCA. "Just as important, national accreditation brings visibility to a community, which can result in more visitors and shoppers, as well as increased investment."

Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Main Street New Jersey provides technical assistance and training in the Main Street Four-Point Approach® developed by the National Trust Main Street Center. More than 1,900 communities across the country have adopted the approach, which focuses on organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring, to revitalize their historic or traditional commercial districts.

Since its inception in 1990, Main Street New Jersey has leveraged more than $1 billion in new private investment and another $228 million in public investment. It has also helped cultivate the net gain of more than 7,656 full-time jobs and 1,715 new and expanded businesses.

Each year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center offers accreditation to the local Main Street programs that meet the 10 national standards of performance.  In 2010, 759 programs in the nation received national accreditation based on their evaluations from 2009.

For more information on the National Main Street accreditation and the 10 standards of performance, please visit www.preservationnation.org/main-street/about-main-street/the-programs/national-programs.html. In 2010, 759 programs in the nation received accreditation.

For more information on Main Street New Jersey and to view or download its 20th Anniversary Report, please visit www.mainstreetnewjersey.com.

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