Paducah Main Street Re-accredited for 2017

Kentucky Main Street, a program of the Kentucky Heritage Council, has notified Paducah Main Street that it has been reaccredited as a Nationally Certified Kentucky Main Street Community. 
 
In the February letter to Paducah, State Main Street Coordinator Kitty Dougoud said the organization has met or exceeded the highest standards for the National Main Street Center, which works to advance the preservation-based revitalization of commercial districts throughout the country.  

The letter was sent to the city because Paducah Main Street is a division of the City of Paducah Planning Department.
 
Downtown Development Specialist - Paducah Main Street Director Melinda Winchester said she was thrilled to receive the news, and it is a credit to all of the volunteers, stakeholders, board members, and committees who work to revitalize and promote downtown, and develop events that encourage people to come to the area.
 
Winchester said, “I’m also so proud of the 2016 accomplishments for Paducah’s historic downtown. Seven new businesses opened.  Also in 2016, numerous businesses used the revitalization programs that the City has put in place to assist the businesses in the district. We had four receive façade and beautification grants, eight are receiving roof stabilization assistance, and two locations qualified for upper story residential grants. I’m also excited to see several building rehabilitations underway. Paducah’s downtown continues to grow and change. I encourage people who haven’t visited to come downtown. You’ll be thrilled with the variety of businesses and all of the activity.”
 
Also this month at the Kentucky Main Street Program’s Winter Meeting in Frankfort, main street directors from across the state displayed exhibits about their programs and met with legislators. Rep. Chad McCoy of Bardstown and Sen. Robin Webb of Grayson introduced House and Senate floor resolutions, respectively, to honor the success of the Kentucky Main Street program, which has 39 participating communities.
 
Those communities reported cumulative public and private investment of nearly $110 million in their commercial downtown districts in 2016, and increase of $34 million compared to 2015.  

Furthermore, for 2016, Kentucky Main Street communities reported:
1,452 new jobs created in Main Street districts
234 new businesses created
81 new housing units in downtowns 
198 building rehabilitation projects completed 
$51,433,241 invested in historic building rehabilitation
 
For more information about Paducah Main Street, contact Winchester at mwinchester@paducahky.gov or at 270-444-8690.