Crowley Main Street Receives
2009 National Trust Main Street Accreditation

Crowley, Louisiana June 30, 2009—Crowley Main Street 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 the 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 this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards,” says Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center.  “Rebuilding a district’s economic health and maintaining the success requires broad-based community involvement and support, in addition to establishing a solid organization with sound management that is committed to long term success, which Mrs. Providencia “Rita” Johnson, Main Street Manager of Crowley has demonstrated”.

The National Trust Main Street Center works in partnership with Coordinating Main Street Programs throughout the nation to identify the local programs that meet the National Trust’s 10 basic performance standards.  These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four-Point Approach to commercial district revitalization.  Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and strong public private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress, preserving historic buildings.  For more information on the National Program accreditation program, visit www.mainstreet.org/nationalprograms.

Crowley Main Street’s performance was evaluated by Louisiana Main Street, which is the coordinating organization for Main Street programs in Louisiana.

“Crowley was awarded Main Street status in July 1999.  In the year 2001 was recognized as a National Main Street Community, and has retained this status every since,” says Rita Johnson, manager for Crowley Main Street.  “I am very proud that we are a State and National Main Street Community and will continue to do everything that is needed plus to retain our status.  I thoroughly enjoy the work I do, and look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Crowley.   I would like to thank the Mayor and Board of Alderman, the Main Street Board and the community for their support of the Main Street Program.”
Since becoming a Main Street Community according to the Louisiana Main Street Reinvestment Statistics, the State Main Street Office has contributed a total of over $61,000 for Crowley’s façade grants awarded to historically significant commercial buildings which are located within the nationally recognized  “Downtown Commercial Historic Main Street District.  Crowley’s downtown restoration with rehab projects totaling over $9 million in private investment and $303,700 in public investment to this point, for a total of nearly $10 million including 53 new businesses added and 198 new jobs over the years for a successful revitalization efforts in a nationally acclaimed National Main Street Community.

Since 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center has helped hundreds of downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the nation reclaim the unique quality of life that only a thriving community center can provide.  Through the Main Street Four Approach to commercial district revitalization, which combines historic preservation and economic development, the Center has forged a nationwide movement for the revival of America’s historic and traditional commercial districts.  The Center provides a nationwide membership network, comprehensive on-site consulting services, in-depth seminars and conferences, technical publications and training materials, and national advocacy for commercial districts.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them.  By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability.  With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.  For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.

For information pertaining to the local Main Street Program you may contact Rita Johnson at 337-788-4123.  Crowley Main Street, “Old Town…New Flair.”