MAIN STREET BATESVILLE RECEIVES 2009 NATIONAL MAIN STREET ACCREDIATION
Main Street Batesville has been designated an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Each year, the National Trust and its coordinating program partners announce a list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations that have demonstrated their ability to follow the Main Street methodology.
“We congratulate Main Street Batesville’s executive director, Paula Grimes, and the board of directors for meeting our established performance standards,” says Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. The National Trust works with statewide organizations to identify local programs that meet the Trust’s 10 basic performance standards, including developing a mission, fostering public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking progress, and preserving historic buildings. For more information, visit www.mainstreet.org/nationalprograms.
The organization’s performance was evaluated by Main Street Arkansas, a division of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. “Information provided to us by the state office shows that more than $535,000 in cash and services has flowed into Batesville from Main Street Arkansas as a result of Main Street Batesville’s certification since 1985,” stated board president Chris Black, “and an additional $627,000 in cash has been given directly to Independence County and other Batesville organizations froChris Black,m the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.”
Main Street Batesville is a private non-profit agency whose mission is to promote the community of Batesville and its’ citizens’ quality of life by encouraging the preservation and revitalization of the downtown historic district. It is governed by a board of directors, including president, David Thompson, vice-president, Connie Townsley, secretary-treasurer, Gail Harley, Earline Tripp, Alan Bufford, and Mike Schmidt. If you would like more information, please contact Paula Grimes at 870-793-4632.
