While there was not any confetti or balloons, the day still held a special meaning to Spirit of Athens Executive Director Trisha Black.

 

“This has been something we’ve been working toward for the last eight years,” she told a small crowd of local government officials and press. “This means a lot to me.”

What the designation actually means for the city is that the national Main Street program — an arm of the National Trust for Historic Preservation — will feature Athens in its national and international promotional materials. It also means more people will be exposed to city initiatives such as High Cotton Arts and the Grease Festival. Finally, it means Black and her organization have a national entity to turn to when looking for project funding and other resources.

Mostly what the designation means for Black is someone officially stating what she has known all along: that Athens is a special place.

“It’s an honor for us, because now we’re being recognized for all the hard work we’ve been doing,” she said.

It takes a village to become designated a Main Street program. There are a number of requirements that have to be met, including strict requirements for Spirit of Athens. Even more, the state must have its own Main Street program — something Alabama did not reinstate until 2013.

Above all, the committee is looking at towns that are not only deeply rooted in history, but are also on the move into the future with progressive programs to bolster the local economy.

 

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