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Elgin’s team dedicated to revitalizing the city’s historic downtown area received national accreditation this past week, one of only 42 communities in the state to earn the recognition.
The city of Elgin Main Street Program was designated as an Accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards in its exceptional commitment to preservation- based economic development and community revitalization.
“We are incredibly excited to celebrate this year’s 800 Accredited Main Street America programs, and their remarkable efforts to re-energize their local economies and public spaces,” Main Street America President and CEO Erin Barnes said. “Main Street leaders are visionaries that see things that no one else can see and create the future world we all want to live in. The size and impact of our network demonstrates that great things happen when visions are realized through strategic, grassroots collaboration.”
Elgin’s Main Street Board has stated that the historic preservation of the city’s irreplaceable cultural resources is vital for communal success and growth.
In 2023, the Main Street America prog rams generated $5.68 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,630 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 35,162 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,556 historic buildings and leveraged 1,664,763 volunteer hours, according to program representatives. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support its operations, it generated $18.03 of new investment back into its downtown and commercial corridor communities.
Elgin Main Street Program’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, along with the Texas Historic Commission’s Texas Main Street Program.
These standards provide the Main Street America network with a strong foundational framework to review progress, recognize strengths, understand trends and identify strategies that move main street programs forward, according to representatives.
To qualify for Accredited status, Main Street America’s top designation tier, communities must demonstrate a proven track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach. The approach includes exceptional performance in broad-based community commitment to revitalization, inclusive leadership and organizational capacity, diversified funding and sustainable program operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation- based economic development and demonstrated impact and results.
The Elgin Main Street Program saw 14 new businesses open last year, provided $6,500 through business assistance grants, developed a temporary parklet program for hosting interactive events, installed pedestrian crosswalk bollards along Main Street, doubled its social media following with a 77,800 reach and began a $1.8 million park expansion in Veterans Memorial Park.
Overall reinvestment dollars in downtown Elgin stands at $38.5 million to date.
“The history of the Main Street Program in Elgin is impressive indeed, from the zoning overlay to Sip, Shop & Stroll and Hogeye, the best little pig gig in Texas. The only thing more exciting than the impressive track record is the future of our Main Street designation and the work done for the downtown district as Elgin grows and the newest Elginites learn to love our downtown as much as our long timers,” Krista Marx, board president said.
For more information, email volunteer coordinator Donna Ambrogio at dpambrog@ gmail.com.
