Downtown Association receives 2022 Main Street America accreditation

The Greater Kokomo Downtown Association, a unit of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, 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 accredited programs to recognize exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.

“We are extremely proud to recognize this year’s 863 nationally accredited Main Street America programs that have worked tirelessly to advance economic vitality and quality of life in their downtowns and commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, president and CEO of Main Street America. “During another incredibly challenging year, these programs demonstrated the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of their communities.”

In 2021, Main Street America programs generated $5.76 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,601 net new businesses, generated 30,402 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,595 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,427,729 volunteer hours, according to the Main Street organization. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support its operations, $19.34 of new investment was generated.

“We are proud to again retain this elite designation as it signifies our commitment to community revitalization,” said Susan Alexander, manager of Downtown Initiatives for the Greater Kokomo Alliance. “That commitment will remain because we know we are on the pathway to achieving even more improvements in downtown Kokomo and beyond.”

The Greater Kokomo Downtown Association’s performance is annually evaluated by the Indiana Main Street organization, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards.

Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building meaningful and sustainable revitalization programs and include standards such as, fostering strong public-private partnerships, supporting small and locally owned businesses, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.