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Main Street Middletown Receives Prestigious Accreditation

Main Street Middletown, MD Inc. has officially been designated as an Accredited Main Street America program for the year 2025. This esteemed title reflects the organization's unwavering commitment to preservation-based economic development and the revitalization of its community through the established Main Street Approach™. The announcement highlights Middletown's dedication to uplifting its downtown area and creating a vibrant community atmosphere.

Main Street America’s accreditation serves as a benchmark for evaluating the performance of local programs that strive to enhance their historical districts and commercial spaces. Each year, only a select group are honored with this designation, representing the pinnacle of achievement within the network.

Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America, emphasized the significance of this recognition, stating, “Main Street America is proud to acknowledge the 821 Accredited programs in our network this year for their dedication to community enhancement and development. The efforts of engaged leaders show the potential for impactful transformation in local areas.” This accolade not only signals the strength of the program but also draws attention from stakeholders at all levels, including local, state, and national funding sources.

In order to achieve this top-tier accredited status, Main Street Middletown underwent a rigorous evaluation process. Assessments were conducted by both its personnel and board members, alongside the Maryland Main Street Program, which partners with Main Street America to identify local programs adhering to high national standards in community revitalization. The evaluation criteria require a demonstrated history of successful outcomes based on several key areas, including community commitment to revitalization efforts, leadership capacity, diversified funding, operational sustainability, strategy-driven programming, and preservation-based economic initiatives.

In 2024, the impact of Main Street programs across the country was substantial. With reported local reinvestments of approximately $7.65 billion, the programs facilitated the opening of over 6,300 new businesses and the creation of nearly 34,000 new jobs. Additionally, they played a crucial role in rehabilitating more than 10,000 historic buildings and logging an impressive total of 1.9 million volunteer hours across various communities. The fiscal return on investment from local programs was remarkable, yielding an average of $21.73 reinvested for each dollar spent on program operations.

For Main Street Middletown, 2024 was a year of remarkable achievements. The organization celebrated the launch of four new businesses within its Main Street District, secured over $350,000 in grants designated for capital improvements, and witnessed the long-anticipated grand opening of the Welcome Center. This facility, located at 19 West Main Street, serves to enhance the visitor experience in Middletown's downtown. The project included significant improvements and an unprecedented expansion of the volunteer program dedicated to operating the center.

Becky Axilbund, the Executive Director of Main Street Middletown, received the prestigious Tyler Gearhart Award from Preservation Maryland in recognition of her leadership throughout these initiatives. During a statement reflecting on the program's achievements, Axilbund remarked, “We are proud to be a nationally accredited Main Street program. It’s a collective effort, and we are immensely grateful to our Board, volunteers, and local partners, particularly the Burgess and Commissioners, who have helped us significantly.