Main Street's great
Newark selected for 2011 Great American Main Street Award
3:42 p.m., May 23, 2011--The Downtown Newark Partnership has been selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the winners of its 2011 Great American Main Street Awards (GAMSA).
Recognized as a leader following the Main Street Four-Point Approach, embracing sound historic preservation ethics and building strategic partnerships, the Downtown Newark Partnership was honored at the Main Street Awards ceremony during the National Main Streets Conference in Des Moines, Iowa.
Honors Stories
National Medal of Science
Warren Award
The National Trust Main Street Center’s annual GAMSA winners are recognized for their exceptional accomplishments in revitalizing the nation’s historic and traditional Main Street commercial districts by using the proven Main Street Four-Point Approach. According to the center, by using the Main Street methodology, the city of Newark has evolved from a sleepy college town with a struggling downtown to a small-business hotbed and regional shopping, dining and entertainment destination. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, including the University of Delaware, elected officials, business owners and residents, the Downtown Newark Partnership has capitalized on Newark’s business and tourism opportunities without losing its historic identity or small-city roots.
“The Downtown Newark Partnership has worked skillfully with public and private partners to find creative solutions to downtown’s challenges and to celebrate its assets and opportunities,” said Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. “With 26 new businesses opening and more than $30 million invested in the last 3.5 years and a popular year-round arts and events calendar that draws from miles around, Newark has emerged as a fun, attractive and intelligent city for work and play.”
"It's always wonderful when others find out what we've known all along: Newark is a great town," said David Brond, vice president for communications and marketing at the University. "The city of Newark and the University enrich each other, making this community a stimulating place to work, live, play and learn -- truly an East Coast Classic. We're very proud of Newark for getting this well-deserved honor."
The other four winners include Downtown Beloit Association, Beloit, Wisc.; Main Street Fort Pierce, Fort Pierce, Fla.; Old Town Main Street, Lansing, Mich.; and Silver City Main Street Project, Silver City, N.M.
GAMSA winners demonstrate exemplary achievement in the process of strengthening their downtowns and commercial districts based on the following selection criteria:
• Active involvement of the public and private sectors;
• Broad-based community support for the revitalization effort;
• Quality of achievements over time;
• Innovative solutions to significant problems;
• Commitment to historic preservation;
• Evolving track record of successful commercial district revitalization;
• Comprehensive revitalization effort: activity in all four points of the Main Street Four-Point Approach to commercial district revitalization;
• Economic impact of the revitalization program; and
• Successful small business development.
The winners were selected by a national jury composed of former award winners, community development professionals, governmental agency representatives who are active in community economic development and historic preservation.
The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a proven methodology for historic preservation-based economic development that was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation 30 years ago and is used in more than 2,000 communities throughout the U.S.
About the Downtown Newark Partnership
The Downtown Newark Partnership is a private/public partnership dedicated to the aesthetic, economic, cultural and social enhancement of downtown Newark. In the partnership, the city, businesses, residential communities and the University of Delaware all work toward a common goal: the ongoing enhancement of downtown Newark with mutual benefits.
About the National Trust Main Street Center
Established in 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 29 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $44.9 billion in new public and private investment. Participating communities have created 370,514 net new jobs and 82,909 net new businesses and rehabilitated more than 199,500 buildings, leveraging an average of $25.36 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts. To learn about previous GAMSA winners, visit the center's website.
About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit 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, eight regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, 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.PreservationNation.org/main-street.