MainStreet Libertyville Receives 2013 National Main Street Accreditation
MainStreet Libertyville has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrated their ability in using the Main Street Four Point Approach methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings.
“We congratulate this year's nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards,” said Valecia Crisafulli, acting Director of the National Main Street Center. “Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the downtown in the economy head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.”
A Main Street community since 1989 and a recipient of the prestigious Great American Main Street award, the mission of MainStreet Libertyville is to bring economic development and retention through historic preservation to the downtown. In 1989 the downtown had a 30% vacancy rate with its buildings underutilized and in need of rehabilitation. Through the years the public/private partnership has worked to bring the downtown back to life, totaling $51,995,188 in private investment.
As a non profit volunteer-based organization, MainStreet Libertyville hosts over 50 days of retail and community events each year. In fact, in 2012 volunteers donated over 4400 hours to coordinate events such as Let's Wine About Winter, Dickens of a Holiday and Farmers Market, three fundraisers, and serve as members of Organization, Design, Business Matters and Promotion committees. Pam Hume, Executive Director stated “The success of the program is rooted in the support of our volunteers and members. They are the backbone of our organization and give tirelessly of their time to maintain the vibrancy of the downtown and its rich historic heritage”.
MainStreet Chair Ken Stemke summarized 2012 as the best year ever for both the organization and downtown Libertyville with even more to come in 2013. “MainStreet Libertyville has built itself into a strong, sustainable organization that has an incredible asset, historic downtown Libertyville, to help promote and to assist in achieving the highest levels of success. The increasing tax base of the downtown district helps the entire Libertyville community. We expect 2013 to exceed all expectations.”
For more information on volunteer opportunities or to become a member, visit the website at www.mainstreetlibertyville.org, friend us on facebook or call the office at 847-680-0336.