Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association Recognized for Revitalizing Local Economy

Information courtesy of Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association.

The has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Each year, the National Trust and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate 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,” says Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. “Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the recession head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.”

The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation which works in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet 10 performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four-Point Approach to commercial district revitalization.

Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving historic buildings. For more information on the national program accreditation program, visit http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/about-main-street/the-programs/national-programs.html.

GHHWA President, Gary Glein, indicated he is, “very pleased, as the accreditation recognizes the faith and support of the waterfront merchants, our many volunteers, the and others who have worked so hard to make the Waterfront Association an effective force in the community.”

The Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Washington corporation and Main Street community, implementing the National Main Street Center’s Four Point Main Street Approach in Gig Harbor. The mission of the GHHWA is to bring together community and waterfront district stakeholders, encourage economic vitality and preserve historic character. For more information about the Waterfront Association, visit www.gigharborwaterfront.org.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.PreservationNation.org.