Fayette Main Street, Inc. has been designated an Affiliate Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Affiliate programs to recognize their commitment to creating meaningful improvements to their downtowns using preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.

“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 412 Affiliate Main Street America programs and their steadfast dedication to nurturing economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, Interim President & CEO of Main Street America. “The increase in the size and impact of our network speaks volumes to the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of local communities and drive innovative solutions.”

In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, every dollar a Main Street program spent to support its operations generated $24.07 of new investment back into its downtown communities.

Collectively, two million people live or work within the boundaries of designated Main Street America districts. An estimated workforce of 1.1 million people contribute their skills and expertise to advancing the missions of these historic downtowns and commercial corridors.

In Fayette, the organization has contributed to the beautification of the downtown area, fostered relationships that resulted in new businesses locating to Fayette, hosted several significant events that brought hundreds to the downtown area, awarded close to $10,000 in 2022 in facade grants to existing Fayette downtown businesses, and provides ongoing support, guidance, and marketing efforts around the square.

“As we reflect on 2022 and look forward to the rest of 2023, we’ve accomplished a great deal in downtown Fayette,” said Deanna Cooper, Fayette Main Street Board President. “While there are accomplishments visible to the public, there is much forward movement behind the scenes. This organization has been instrumental in starting very productive discussions, and in the process of implementing the downtown projects, the organization has been working hard at making it happen. Being designated as an Affiliate organization from Main Street America is an achievement that our community should be very proud of. We met the criteria needed for this designation but are far from finished. We are working hard to achieve the next milestone and set the goal to accomplish that in the next couple of years.”

Main Street America 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. Its 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 more than 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.