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MONTEVALLO MAIN STREET RECEIVES 2022 MAIN STREET AMERICA ACCREDITATION

Montevallo, Ala. – Montevallo Main Street has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

“We are extremely proud to recognize this year’s 863 nationally Accredited Main Street America programs that have worked tirelessly to advance economic vitality and quality of life in their downtowns and commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of Main Street America. “During another incredibly challenging year, these programs demonstrated the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of their communities. I am inspired by their steadfast leadership and innovative solutions to drive essential local recovery efforts, support small businesses, and nurture vibrant downtown districts.”

In 2021, Main Street America programs generated $5.76 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,601 net new businesses, generated 30,402 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,595 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,427,729 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, it generated $19.34 of new investment back into Main Street communities.

Montevallo Main Street’s performance is annually evaluated by Main Street Alabama, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building meaningful and sustainable revitalization programs and include standards such as, fostering strong public-private partnerships, supporting small and locally owned businesses, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.

“We have been thrilled to welcome 10 new businesses to our Main Street District since June of last year,” said Courtney Bennett, Executive Director of Montevallo Main Street. “Being an Accredited Main Street Community has made a huge impact on our city since we were first designated in June 2016. Our awesome volunteers have shared over 2,600 hours of their time making Montevallo a better place over the past year. We look forward to continuing our work of promoting and revitalizing downtown through supporting our businesses, promoting the arts, hosting special events like Spring Fling and Friday Nights at the Cove, and making Main Street beautiful through our photo spots and banner programs—especially our Veteran Banner program.” 

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ABOUT MONTEVALLO MAIN STREET
As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, Montevallo Main Street is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Montevallo has been a Designated Main Street Community since June 2016.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $95.33 billion in new public and private investment, generated 161,036 net new businesses and 717,723 net new jobs, and rehabilitated more than 314,431 buildings. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

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PICTURES OF MONTEVALLO MAIN STREET IN ACTION (available for download at this link):
1. Montevallo Main Street brings people downtown during their free summer concert series, Friday Nights at the Cove. Photo by White Rose Film & Photo. 
2. Montevallo Main Street brings people downtown during their free summer concert series, Friday Nights at the Cove. Photo by White Rose Film & Photo. 
3. Montevallo Main Street co-hosted their inaugural Spring Fling event with DRUM the Program (pictured) and Impact Montevallo this April one block from Main Street to bring families downtown. Photo by White Rose Film & Photo. 
4. Volunteer Missy Lehman spruces up planters in front of El Agave Bar & Grill. 
5. Main Street Board President Sarah Hogan paints safety stripes on downtown steps. 
6. Jarvis Davis, owner of Save My Cell on Main Street, volunteers to change out signage at Owl’s Cove Park. Photo by Adele Nelson. 
7. Reinvestment statistics from Main Street America.