FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – Montevallo Main Street has 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.

“We are proud to acknowledge this year’s nationally accredited Main Street America programs that have worked tirelessly to strengthen their communities,” said Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center. “These programs deserve recognition for generating impressive economic returns, preserving community character and celebrating local history. 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.”

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 local Main Street Program performance is annually evaluated by Main Street Alabama, the State Coordinating Program that works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet 10 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.

“Since being designated as a Main Street community in 2016, our growth has been unmatched,” said Dr. Hollie Cost, mayor of Montevallo since 2012. “What’s really most impressive is the way it has been a change of culture in the community. We see our growth and development more as our responsibility, and now we understand how to actively go out and recruit businesses. Having the Main Street Approach as a framework enables us to fully connect the dots to strengthen the real heart of our community, which is Main Street.”

Designated Main Street Alabama communities report economic impact in their districts each month.

Cumulative totals for the program since June 2016, when Montevallo was designated a Main Street Community, are as follows:

• 17 net new/relocating businesses
• 30 net new jobs created
• $6,065,435 public dollars invested
• $5,891,972 private dollars invested
• 6,953 volunteer hours

New businesses include Lucky Penny Boutique, Emma Gray Boutique, Kimble’s Boutique, Taco Bell, Frios Gourmet Pops, C’s Cake & Coffee House, La Conchita Bakery, The Dive Bar, Team Lehman – Keller Williams Real Estate, Custom Homes by Jason Pickleseimer, Shampoochies Pet Spa, Elite Bail Bonds, Elite Private Investigation, DRE FIT, Deep Roots Apotheke & Clinic, Southern Vape, and The Art Studio, with Montevallo Makers and Scott Vaughn Owen Studio coming soon.

Cumulative totals for all designated Alabama Main Street Communities since 2014 are as follows:

• 379 net new/relocating businesses
• 2,364 net new jobs created
• $83,284,171 public dollars invested
• $303,975,745 private dollars invested
• 78,992 volunteer hours