Greater Meredith Program accredited by national Main Street Center

The Greater Meredith Program (GMP) has joined 593 other Main Street revitalization programs nationally recognized as accredited Main Street programs for 2005. GMP earned the recognition by meeting standards for performance set by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center.

"The national accreditation means the Meredith program is meeting the national standards of performance for what a Main Street program should be doing," said Doug Loescher, director of the national program. "The organizations we name each year as National Main Street programs are those that have demonstrated the skills needed to succeed in Main Street revitalizations.

The annual accreditation process evaluates commercial district revitalization programs based on criteria ranging from having an active board of directors and paid professional manager to tracking economic progress and preserving historic buildings.

"We are pleased to receive accreditation because we have worked very hard this past year to meet the criteria," said GMP Board of Directors President Rusty McLear. "We are especially proud of this program because it focuses on the entire community, not just the Main Street.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable.

The GMP, an affiliate of the New Hampshire Main Street Center, is a community development organization seeking to enhance economic vitality, historical and cultural heritage and town-wide beautification. For more information about GMP, contact Jeanie Forrester at 279-9015.