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Young and old alike enjoyed last Friday's Beach Bash, which transformed the downtown Post Office parking lot into a beach.
Per usual, Standard Sand and Silica Co. and Fowler Flemister Concrete teamed up to donate and transport 80 tons of sand for the event.
Images courtesy of Milledgeville MainStreet
Also last Friday, Milledgeville Main Street Executive Director Carlee Schulte announced that the local chapter once again is "an Accredited Main Street America program." According to the press release:
Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
Milledgeville Main Street/ Downtown Development Authority’s performance is annually evaluated by Georgia Main Street, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. To qualify for Accreditation status, communities must meet a set of rigorous standards that include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.
“As the director here for almost 13 years, I am well aware of the hard work required to continue receiving our accreditation each year. I also realize that the work never ends and there will always be more projects, programs, and promotions to be done downtown. This accreditation means we are doing things right and as long as I’m here, we will continue to strive for more,” wrote Schulte.
Main Street America, added the press release, "leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
"Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation."
