Downtown Waxhaw has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 862 Accredited Main Street America programs, and their steadfast dedication to nurture economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, Interim President & CEO of Main Street America. “The increase in the size and impact of our network speaks volumes to the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of local communities and drive innovative solutions.”
In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, it generated $24.07 of new investment back into their downtown communities.
Collectively, 2 million people live or work within the boundaries of designated Main Street America districts. An estimated workforce of 1.1 million people contribute to advancing the missions of these historic downtowns and commercial corridors.
Downtown Waxhaw’s performance is annually evaluated by North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center, which collaborates with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. To quality for Accreditation status, communities must meet a set of rigorous standards that include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.
“After being recognized as an affiliate program in 2022, we are thrilled to have met the standards to become an Accredited Main Street Program in 2023,” said Ashley Nowell, Waxhaw’s Downtown Director. “Last year, we really put the focus on building a strong and sustainable organization supported by community volunteers, and this accreditation shows that effort was successful.”
The Main Street Approach has been successful for Waxhaw with over $26 million in public and private investment, 306 net new jobs, and 60 net new businesses over the last 14 years. In December 2022, the Town of Waxhaw’s Board of Commissioners voted to expand the Main Street program by creating a 501c3 tax-exempt organization with a mission to preserve and promote Downtown Waxhaw. The newly formed Board of Directors for the Downtown Waxhaw Association, Inc. held its first board meeting in May.
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