Downtown Oxford finally regained its national accreditation as a Main Street community after losing it two years ago.
During its recent annual evaluation, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) received credit for all 10 of the criteria used by the National Main Street Center in Washington D.C. to judge progress in designated communities.
‘It just demonstrates the willingness of our board, our volunteers, our community members to take the organization to that next level,? said DDA Executive Director Joe Frost.
The 10 criteria used to evaluate Main Street communities are broad-based community support; vision and mission statements; historic preservation ethic; paid, professional DDA/Main Street Program Director; program of ongoing training; reporting of key statistics; Main Street Network membership; comprehensive work plan; active board and committees; and adequate operating budget.
To become accredited, all 10 criteria must be met.
During the 2014 evaluation, downtown Oxford lost its national accreditation because the DDA was forced to eliminate its director position due to a budget crisis that required a bailout from the village for the 2012-13 fiscal year.
By the time the 2015 evaluation rolled around, the DDA once again had a director, but it failed to meet the criterion of having an active board and committees.
Frost noted the DDA made up for it this year. ‘I was impressed and encouraged to see the level of board support at the evaluation,? he said.
But the DDA still has work to do. Five of the criteria Oxford received credit for came with the caveat ‘needs improvement,? according to Frost.
He noted that although downtown Oxford had previously lost its national accreditation, it never stopped being a Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) community, a designation it’s had since 2004.
MSOC is an economic development program that helps downtowns become ‘vibrant, successful districts that serve as the heart of their communities.?
Being accredited gives downtown Oxford more visibility on a national level and ‘it holds us to a greater standard,? Frost told the board.
‘There are Main Street communities out there that will probably never have a national accreditation,? he noted.