Meeting Accreditation Standards

We were just notified, Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation has received accreditation again, as a National Main Street Program, for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center®.

The NC Main Street Center, under the Department of Commerce, evaluated our organization’s performance in 2011 and determined we met the criteria and all ten performance standards. These standards of performance help keep the Main Street Program strong and focused state-wide and nationally.

The ten standards of performance Swiss Bear met for accreditation are:

·  Having a broad-based community support for the commercial

    district revitalization process, with strong support from both the

    public and private sectors.

·  Developed  vision and mission statements relevant to community

    conditions and to the local Main Street ® program’s

    organizational stage.

·  Have a comprehensive Main Street ® work plan.

·  Possess and exhibit a historic preservation ethic.

·  Have an active board of directors and committees.

·  Have an adequate operating budget.

·  Have a paid professional program manager.

·  Conduct a program of ongoing training for staff and volunteers.

·  Report key statistics.

·  A current member of the National Main Street Network®

    membership program. Information about the National Trust Main Street Center

Established in 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center® helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtown's and urban neighborhoods over the last 30 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $53.6 billion in new public and private investment.  Participating communities have created 448,835 net new jobs and 104,961 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 229,164 buildings, leveraging an average of $18 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts.

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director