Main Street Texarkana earns state accreditation

Downtown renewal advocacy group Main Street Texarkana has achieved state-level accreditation, making it eligible for grant money and national recognition.

Greg Phillips, director of Main Street Arkansas, presented the results of an annual review Tuesday at a meeting of the local organization’s board of directors. Though he pointed out some areas with room for improvement, Phillips joined Main Street Texas in accrediting Main Street Texarkana for 2017.

The designation makes Main Street Texarkana eligible to receive downtown revitalization grants awarded at the state level, and it shows that the group has met criteria set by the national organization, Main Street America.

Accreditation “is a mark of distinction that signifies commitment to comprehensive revitalization, community engagement, and rigorous outcome measurement. These are programs or organizations that have a proven track record of success in planning, implementing, and measuring results that align with the Main Street Approach and have met a series of rigorous accreditation standards,” according Main Street America’s website.

Those 10 standards include community support, preservation ethic and adequate operating budget. Phillips suggested improvements in two areas, creating a more specific work plan and developing more active committees. But overall, Main Street Texarkana got high marks.

In other business, Executive Director Ina McDowell announced Main Street will conduct a tour of vacant downtown buildings on May 13 in conjunction with Railfest. Called “Imagine the Possibilities,” the tour is meant to spotlight the potential in downtown real estate.

On Twitter: @RealKarlRichter