The efforts of Main Street Bath have again earned it recognition for commercial district revitalization by meeting standards for performance set by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center.  There are over 1800 Main Street communities in the United States.  Main Street Bath is one of 593 Main Street revitalization programs nationally recognized as a certified National Main Street Program for 2005.

The National Accreditation means the Main Street program is meeting our national standards of performance for what a Main Street program should be doing,” said Doug Loescher, director of National Trust’s Main Street program.  “The organizations we name each year as National Main Street Programs are those that have demonstrated the skills needed to succeed in Main Street revitalization. ”  

The annual accreditation process evaluates commercial district revitalization programs criteria ranging from having an active board of directors and paid professional manager to tracking economic progress and preserving historic Main Street buildings.  

“Rebuilding a district’s economic health and maintaining that success requires broad-based community involvement, active support from both the public and private sectors, and sound management,” said Loescher. “Having a solid organization at the foundation of that revitalization effort is so important to long term success.”

The program's performance was evaluated by the Maine Downtown Center, which is the statewide coordinating organization for Main Street programs in Maine.

Elena D. Vandervoort, President of the Main Street Bath Board of Directors, stated "We are proud that the National Trust Main Street Center has again recognized the achievements of the Main Street Bath program in awarding us national certification.  The enormous efforts of our many volunteers and the success of our continuing partnerships is apparent throughout the Main Street Bath program.  With this recognition comes the challenge to continue to improve our already healthy and vibrant downtown even more. There is truly "magic in Main Street."
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable.  Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America ’s diverse historic places and revitalize communities.  Its Washington, D.C. headquarters staff, six regional offices and 21 historic sites work with the Trust’s quarter-million members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states.  For more information, visit the National Trust’s web site at nationaltrust.org.

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