State Main Street Director Receives National Leadership Award

State Main Street Director Receives National Leadership Award
Oklahoma City, OK – The National Trust Main Street Center awarded the Main Street Executive Committee the 2008 National Main Street Partner award during the Opening Plenary of the National Main Streets Conference in Philadelphia on Monday, March 31, 2008, at the Marriott Downtown Philadelphia.
 
Committee members who received this award include:
Monica Miller, Executive Committee Chair, West Virginia Main Street Program;
Susan Kempf, Executive Committee Vice Chair, Washington State Main Street Program;
Linda Barnett, Oklahoma Main Street Center;
Robert Donohue, Jr., Main Street Oakland County (Michigan);
Thom Guzman, Iowa Downtown Resource Center;
Beppie LeGrand, Main Street South Carolina;
Marion Boyd, Arkansas Main Street;
Cary Tyson, Arkansas Main Street; and
Beverly Meng, Mississippi Main Street Association
 
“Recognition from the National Trust Main Street Center for the work of the state coordinators and the Executive Committee is very nice and very encouraging for the future of the national program and our statewide program,” said Barnett.
 
Since its formation in 2004, the Main Street Executive Committee, which is composed of several coordinators of statewide and countywide Main Street programs from throughout the U.S., has worked tirelessly to strengthen Main Street’s position and voice in the preservation field. The Committee has taken the lead on developing standards for program performance for more than 1,200 local and 42 coordination programs and acts as the representative for all local and coordinating Main Street programs to national partners and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
 
“The Executive Committee has been instrumental in strengthening Main Street’s connection between the field and the National Trust for Historic Preservation by advocating for a place at the table with the National Trust’s Board of Trustees and by serving on numerous committees and taskforces,” says Doug Loescher, Director of the National Trust Main Street Center. “The Committee has created a presence for Main Street throughout the preservation community. Committee members give generously of their time and talents to strengthen the power of the Main Street network and contribute to our collective success in revitalizing America’s irreplaceable communities. They are true partners in the success of the National Main Street movement.”
 
The Main Street Partner Award recognizes individuals or organizations who advocate nationally and regionally on the behalf of Main Street to enhance the public’s recognition of the importance of saving America’s downtowns and traditional commercial districts as well as supporting the people engaged in this work.
 
The Oklahoma Main Street Program provides training and technical assistance for revitalizing historic downtowns and neighborhood business districts.
 
43 participating Oklahoma Main Street communities have generated more than $580 million in total public and private reinvestment, created more than 10,900 new jobs and helped in the development more than 3,450 new or expanded small businesses,
 
For more information about the Oklahoma Main Street Program, visit www.OKcommerce.gov/mainstreet  or call (405) 815-5171.
 
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The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (www.OKcommerce.gov) is the primary economic and workforce development arm of the state.  The agency recruits new businesses to the state, develops economic incentives, assists existing business growth, manages programs that develop the future workforce, facilitates international trade and export assistance, and provides funding to Oklahoma rural communities for programs and activities aimed at sustainability and economic growth. It also manages funds and programs for the State Energy Office function of the U.S. Department of Energy.