Bay City Tribune

Bay City Main Street advisory board announced Thursday, July 22 that it has been designated as an accredited 2010 National Main Street program.

D.C. Dunham and Karen Hitzfeld, Bay City Main Street co-directors, said the accreditation is an honor.

"This is the first year we have ever received accreditation," said Hitzfeld.

"It's a competitive program and we're excited that our program met their specific standards."

Each year the Bay City Main Street co-directors and board members work hard to document their municipal historic preservation work.

The Texas Main Street Program outlines 10 performance standards and criteria, which must be met on a local level to receive accreditation by the national program.

The Bay City Main Street program has been successful over the years in helping businesses on Bay City's historic town square acquire financial aid and other resources for storefront restoration.

The Bay City Main Street advisory board has also secured grants to fund downtown paving projects, planters and benches.

To receive this national accreditation, Bay City Main Street met commercial district revitalization standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center.

"We congratulate this year's nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards," said Doug Loescher, National Trust main Street Center director.

"Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the recession head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable."

Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress and preserving historic buildings, according to information from a National Trust Main Street Center news release.