ROCKLAND — Rockland Main Street, Inc. has once again been designated as an accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. 

Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs to recognize their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.

“This is wonderful recognition for the efforts of all those who have worked so hard to keep Rockland moving forward”, said Gordon Page, executive director of Rockland Main Street, Inc., in a news release. “As the leading force behind the ongoing revitalization of downtown Rockland, our organization is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and the acknowledgment by the National Main Street Center for the work we do every day to make the City an enviable place to live and do business is gratifying.”

The City of Rockland is just one of ten communities in the state of Maine that are accredited by the national program, which has its roots in the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Patrice Frey, President/CEO of the National Main Street Center, said that there are 840 nationally accredited Main Street America programs whose staff and volunteers work tirelessly to strengthen their communities.

“These programs deserve credit for generating impressive economic returns, preserving community character, and celebrating local history”, said Frey, in the release.

Frey further noted that Main Street America Accredited communities are part of a powerful movement of change makers, and their dedication to improving quality of life in the places they call home is inspiring..

According to statistics provided by the National Main Street Center, in 2018 alone, Main Street America programs generated $4.93 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 5,310 net new businesses, generated 25,301 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 8,146 historic buildings, and clocked 2.2 million volunteer hours.

The Rockland Main Street, Inc. performance is annually evaluated by the Maine Downtown Center, a division of the Maine Development Foundation, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten national performance standards.

Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings.

Rockland Main Street, Inc. is a focused partnership of residents, businesses and local government that enhances and protects the unique sense of place and economic vitality of downtown Rockland, Maine.