This week, Paducah Main Street learned that it has received designation from Main Street America™ as an Accredited Main Street America 2022 program. Paducah Main Street has met rigorous performance standards and is committed to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
Mayor George Bray said, “I want to congratulate Paducah Main Street including Planning Director Nic Hutchison and Planning staff along with the Paducah Main Street Board for their leadership and commitment to growing our historic downtown. Paducah’s downtown is charming, bustling, and full of history and architecture. But it’s the people who make it unique. I am proud of every business, restaurant, and cultural venue that works every day to contribute to our local quality of life.”
Planning Director/Paducah Main Street Director Nic Hutchison said, “We’re excited that Paducah Main Street has earned national accreditation for the diligent work towards downtown revitalization. In partnership with Kentucky Main Street as the coordinating program, Paducah Main Street has helped restore downtown Paducah to a vibrant place where people want to live, work, and play. Main Street has invested in the preservation of buildings, helped foster new business creations, and supported special events downtown. Having an accredited Main Street program adds value to the work we are doing.”
Last year, Paducah’s downtown benefited from approximately $8.3 million in private investment with more than 40 jobs created. Additionally, the community contributed more than 6,600 volunteer hours toward downtown’s success.
“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 & 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. I am inspired by their steadfast leadership and innovative solutions to drive essential local recovery efforts, support small businesses, and nurture vibrant downtown districts.”
In 2021, Main Street America programs across the United States 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. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support operations, it generated $19.34 of new investment back into Main Street communities.
Paducah Main Street’s performance is evaluated annually by Kentucky Main Street, a program through the Kentucky Heritage Council, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determine 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.
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
Paducah Main Street, a division of the Paducah Planning Department, is dedicated to giving a vibrant downtown Paducah experience by promoting historic preservation, economic growth, and creative place-making.
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