Savannah Joins Tennessee Main Street Program
April 15, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Savannah, located in Hardin County, has joined the list of certified communities in the Tennessee Main Street Program, bringing the total to 22 Tennessee communities certified through the program.
“The Main Street Program helps communities preserve the physical appeal of their downtown districts, which is an essential component of economic growth,” said Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber. “I applaud the leaders of Savannah for recognizing the importance of downtown revitalization and for utilizing this program to attract new industries and grow jobs.”
The Main Street program is part of the Community Development Division at ECD. It provides communities with technical assistance and guidance in developing long-term strategies that promote economic growth and development. The program provides information and assistance in forging public networking and training opportunities for downtown commercial districts.
“Participation in this program places emphasis on downtown historic preservation, which is a great way to secure the economic viability of an area,” said Kimberly Nyberg, Tennessee Main Street program coordinator. It also qualifies the community to participate in state-funded grant programs to improve their downtown revitalization efforts.”
Tennessee has participated in the Main Street Program since 1983. The program requires communities to meet several requirements before becoming certified, including broad-based community support for the program, a comprehensive work plan, a sufficient operating budget and adequate staff and volunteer support.
Main Street revitalization is a comprehensive, incremental, self-help economic strategy that also focuses on developing public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation, while maintaining the historic character of their downtown district. For more information on the Tennessee Main Street Program, visit the ECD Web site at www.tnecd.gov.