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FROM STAFF REPORTS

 CALERA – Calera Main Street has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards.

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

“Accreditation by Main Street America is more than a badge of honor—it’s validation that the work we’re doing in Calera is driving real, measurable progress,” Calera Main Street Executive Director Jackie Batson said. “In 2024, we completed our alley activation project, opened the Calera Courtyard pavilion and playground, launched new events like Calera Nerd Fest and the New Year’s Eve Celebration and secured funding for transformative rear façade improvements. Each of these milestones is a step toward building a more vibrant, economically resilient downtown and we’re proud to have national recognition for our momentum.”

Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation—Affiliate and Accredited. These designations are an advocacy tool, signaling to local stakeholders, as well as city, state and national funders, that a Main Street program has an established position within a nationwide movement with a 45-year proven track record of generating impressive economic returns, building local capacity, creating welcoming and inviting communities and creating lasting impact.

“Main Street America is proud to recognize this year’s 821 Accredited Main Street America programs for their commitment to building strong and vibrant communities,” said Erin Barnes, president and CEO of Main Street America. “Their tireless efforts show what’s possible when engaged leaders work together to shape places that reflect the people they serve. The continued impact of our network shows that the Main Street movement remains a powerful force for positive transformation.”

Calera Main Street’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and Main Street Alabama, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.

These standards provide the Main Street America network with a strong foundational framework to review progress, recognize strengths, understand trends and identify strategies that move Main Street programs forward. To quality for Accredited status—Main Street America’s top designation tier—communities must demonstrate a proved track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach and exceptional performance in six areas: broad-based community commitment to revitalization; inclusive leadership and organizational capacity; diversified funding and sustainable program operations; strategy-driven programming; preservation-based economic development and demonstrated impact and results.

“This designation confirms what our board, volunteers and community partners already know—Calera Main Street is making a lasting difference,” said Dennis Torrealba, board president of Calera Main Street. “From supporting small businesses to investing in historic preservation, we’ve built a model of collaboration that brings people together and gets results. We’re honored to be counted among the top programs in the nation.”

In 2024, Main Street America programs generated $7.65 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,324 new businesses, facilitated the creation of 33,835 new jobs, rehabilitated 10,126 historic buildings and logged 1.9 million volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, $21.73 was reinvested into their downtown and commercial corridor communities.

In the past year, Calera Main Street continued its momentum with significant progress in both public and private revitalization efforts. The city completed key infrastructure for the Calera Courtyard, including a new pavilion, restrooms, parking and a sensory-friendly playground—transforming underused space into a lively community destination. Calera Main Street also secured multiple grants and private investments to launch rear façade improvements along Highway 25, addressing long-overdue building repairs and improving ADA access. Additionally, the district welcomed several new businesses, expanded its event offerings and drew record attendance to festivals, further fueling economic activity downtown.