Sedalia Downtown Development Inc. has been designated as an affiliate Main Street America program by the National Main Street Center. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its Coordinating Program partners announce the list of nationally recognized Main Street America Affiliate programs in recognition of their commitment to achieving meaningful improvements in downtowns across the country using the Main Street Approach.
“It is my privilege to recognize this year’s 256 Main Street America Affiliate programs,” said Patrice Frey, President and CEO of the National Main Street Center. “Their work to revive local economies brings communities together to forge the future of cities and towns across the country. Main Streets are the heart of our communities, and these Main Street America programs truly strengthen the economic, social, and cultural fabric of their entire communities.”
The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by Missouri Main Street Connection, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that are committed to comprehensive revitalization and achieving meaningful community outcomes.
“I am very proud to be a part of an organization that so selflessly dedicates itself to serving the community,” said Michelle Swords, President of Sedalia Downtown Development Inc. “ We have moved from a successful effort to preserve our buildings and improve the public areas, to now assisting in business recruitment, hosting community events, maintaining close communication with city and county entities, and promoting our district as a whole on local, state and national levels.”
The Downtown Sedalia historic district experienced positive growth in 2016 with $725,000 in real estate transfers, $3,930,000 in public and private improvements and reporting 1759 volunteer hours (valued at $41,442). The district welcomed 11 new business start-ups and relocations in 2016.
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. It is a network of more than 1,000 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $71.35 billion in new public and private investment, generated 583,869 net new jobs and 131,974 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 267,800 buildings. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
