Blackstone, Virginia (04/24/19) - Downtown Blackstone, Inc. has been designated as an accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center.

Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs to recognize their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™

“We are proud to acknowledge this year’s 840 nationally accredited Main Street America programs that have worked tirelessly to strengthen their communities. These programs deserve recognition for generating impressive economic returns, preserving community character, and celebrating local history. Main Street America Accredited communities are part of a powerful movement of change-makers, and their dedication to improving quality of life in the place they call home is inspiring,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of the National Main Street Center.

In 2018 alone, Main Street America programs generated $4.93 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 5,310 net new businesses, generated 25,301 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 8,146 historic buildings, and clocked 2.2 million volunteer hours. Downtown Blackstone, Inc.’s performance is annually evaluated by Virginia Main Street, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings.

Downtown Blackstone, Inc. is non-profit, volunteer organization focused on the preservation, growth, and vitality of Blackstone’s Historic Business District through comprehensive partnerships and cooperative actions. The organization seeks to cultivate Downtown Blackstone’s vibrant and thriving commercial mix that serves as a source of community pride for residents, prosperous investment opportunities for businesses, as well as an attractive and lively destination for visitors.