The national

designation program annually evaluates commercial district revitalization

programs based on strict criteria such as broad based public support,

historic preservation ethic, active board of directors, adequate funding,

a paid professional manager and reporting of economic progress by providing

statistical information.

The program's

performance was evaluated by the Georgia Main Street Program, which is

the statewide coordinating organization for Main Street programs in Georgia.

"A successful,

well-run Main Street program creates a vibrant district of many uses,

where people come not only to shop, but increasingly to work and live.

it creates a place that defines the community," said Kennedy Smith,

director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street

Center.

"The criteria

for designation reflect activities of a well balanced program. A National

Main Street Community is one that meets our standards of performance for

a Main Street organization. Designation for Fayetteville Main Street as

a National Main Street Community reflects its performance against those

criteria as a commercial district revitalization initiative."

"We are

extremely proud to receive this designation," said Main Street Board

Chairman Robert Sprayberry. "It is just an example of how far we

have come since Fayetteville first received its designation in 1996. We

are excited about what has been accomplished, and also about the future

of the Main Street program."

Fayetteville

Main Street will be honored along with other Georgia Main Street cities

at a special awards ceremony at the statewide conference for Georgia Municipal

Association in Savannah later in June.

The Main Street

program in Georgia is a successful partnership between the Georgia Main

Street Program and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main

Street Center.

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 www.nationaltrust.org .

Back

to News Home Page |