Gonzales Main Street nominated for national recognition

For the 18th consecutive year, the Gonzales Main Street program has been nominated for national accreditation by the National Main Street Center/Main Street America association.

The Texas Historical Commission has recommended that Gonzales be awarded this recognition for its successful annual progress as a designated Main Street community.

“There are 10 different criteria we are judged on in order to be considered for this recognition,” said Barbara Friedrich, the director of the Gonzales Main Street program. “We submit information based on what projects we have worked on, who we have worked with, what progress is being made on downtown beautification and restoration, and a whole bundle of other things in order to be considered.

“I am really proud that we have been designated a nationally recognized program every year since 2000. It is a real testament and compliment to the people of Gonzales who have made this award possible.”

Final approval of the annual designation will take place on March 26-28 at the national Main Street Now conference in Kansas City, Mo.

“The state recognition and national accreditation recognizes the hard work of these local programs, and the value placed on their historic downtowns,” said Debra Drescher, the TMSP state coordinator. “The selection criteria focuses on annual progress in planning, partnerships, staffing, volunteer efforts, preservation ethic, training, and program assessment through reporting.”

The Texas Main Street Program began in 1981 as one of the first state coordinating programs in the country. Local Main Street programs like Gonzales focus on responsibly utilizing a community’s historic assets for economic benefit and quality of life. During 2017, approximately $500 million was reinvested into Texas’ 89 Main Street districts, with 388 small businesses and 2329 jobs created.

“The Texas Main Street Program continues to provide substantial return on investment to local communities across the state,” said Mark Wolfe, the Texas Historical Center Executive Director.

“I feel excited for the entire Gonzales community,” Friedrich said. “This is an award the community has earned and deserves, and I am really happy for them. We all work together to make this all possible.”