HARRISBURG, Pa. — Oil City Main Street, Erie Downtown, Downtown DuBois Revitalization Group, and Clearfield Revitalization Corporation will be recognized with The National Main Street Center and Pennsylvania Downtown Center Program Accreditation Award on Tuesday, August 26, at 1:00 p.m.

The local Main street communities will receive their awards at the PennDOT District 1 Office in Oil City.

A total of 32 Main Street Communities from across the commonwealth recently received recognition as “Nationally Accredited Programs” by the National Main Street Center (NMSC). The annual national accreditation status is based upon ten national standards of performance that include assessment of operating budget, involvement of local boards and committees, reporting of key statistics, training for staff and volunteers, and more.

A complete list of the 10 national standards of performance can be found online.

“As the coordinating organization for the Main Street program in Pennsylvania, PDC is extremely proud of the Main Street communities that have received this recognition from the National Main Street Center this year,” said PDC executive director, Bill Fontana. “While each and every one of Pennsylvania’s Main Street programs contributes to making their communities great, these 32 accredited communities deserve special recognition. Accreditation is an acknowledgment of the fact that an organization is following and implementing a program that is likely to result in a successful revitalization effort.”

The Main Street Four-Point Approach based on design, promotion, organization, and economic restructuring is a comprehensive, preservation-based strategy for strengthening and sustaining the places and enterprises that make up vibrant and unique communities. NMSC was established 1980 and leads a network of more than 1,200 state, regional, and local programs, in this common sense approach to addressing the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional central business districts. NMSC is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Founded in 1987, the mission of Pennsylvania Downtown Center is to build and support the capacity of local nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and individuals to enhance the overall well-being and sustainability of Pennsylvania’s core communities.

For information about the 32 accredited communities or the Main Street program, contact Maria Wherley at (717) 233-4674, ext. 116, or email mariawherley@padowntown.org.