Historic Manassas, Inc. Receives 2013 National Main Street Accreditation

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
Contact: Taylor Lenz
Marketing & Communication Coordinator
(703)361-6599
Tlenz@historicmanassasinc.org
HISTORIC MANASSAS, INC. RECEIVES 2013 NATIONAL MAIN STREET ACCREDITATION
 
Manassas, VA (April 30, 2013)- Historic Manassas, Inc. has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center®, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street® programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street Four Point Approach® methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings.
“We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards,” says Valecia Crisafulli, acting director of the National Main Street Center. “Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the downtown in the economy head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.”
The organization’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 performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress and preserving historic buildings.
Historic Manassas, Inc. revitalization strategies include promoting a positive image of downtown Manassas by encouraging economic development, sponsoring special events throughout the year, and creating partnerships with local businesses to foster further growth and development of the community. Historic Manassas, Inc. is also responsible for the operation of a state-accredited Visitor Center, and a year-round Farmer's Market.
About Historic Manassas, (HMI), Inc.
Established in 1985, Historic Manassas, Inc. (HMI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located at in Old Town Manassas, Va. Its mission is to revitalize, preserve and enhance the economic base that ensures the rich tradition, history and charm of Old Town Manassas, Va. HMI is 25-year accredited member of the Virginia Main Street program which encourages economic development and rejuvenation of old towns in Virginia. Included in Southern Living Magazine and Woman’s Day magazine for places to travel,
Old Town Manassas was also listed by Washingtonian magazine as one of Washington, D.C.’s “best places to live.” For more information about Historic Manassas, Inc. and details on upcoming community events, visit their web site at www.visitmanassas.org or call 703. 361.6599.
Established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980, the National Main Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 32 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $55.7 billion in new public and private investment. Participating communities have created 473,535 net new jobs and 109,693 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 236,418 buildings, leveraging an average of $18 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts.
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