Madison Main Street earns the 2024 Great American Main Street Award

INDIANAPOLIS (May 6, 2024) - Main Street Americarecently announced Madison Main Streetas the winner of the 2024 Great American Main Street Award. The award is Main Street America's top honor, recognizing communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization.

Established in 1979, Madison Main Street was one of three original Main Street pilot programs in the country and played an important role in the creation of the Indiana Main Street program in 1985.

"Congratulations to Madison Main Street for being named the winner of the 2024 Great American Main Street Award," said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "It has been 25 years since an Indiana Main Street community has been awarded this designation, and I can't think of a more deserving recipient. Our Main Street communities are the heart of Indiana, and Madison is the prime example of that in our state."

Selected by a national jury of industry professionals and local leaders in the fields of economic development and historic preservation, Madison Main Street is recognized for fostering a welcoming culture, celebrating historic preservation and championing community collaboration.

"Madison Main Street has a proven track record of success and continues to be an example for other Main Street communities around the country," said OCRA Executive Director Duke Bennett. "This recognition and honor is well deserved for Madison Main Street. Our team at OCRA and Indiana Main Street congratulate all those involved, from the Main Street director to the board and volunteers."

Madison Main Street has shown commitment to historic preservation through work plans that leverage partnerships with the community's preservation organizations, historic sites and local experts. Madison Main Street hosts free preservation-based workshops and brings local history to life through its "This Place Matters" banners. Additionally, the organization's Design Committee volunteers assist business owners with creating architecturally appropriate facades for their storefronts by researching and finding historic photos of their buildings.

"Madison Main Street isn't just about revitalization, it's about igniting possibilities and transforming aspirations into tangible realities for our community," said Executive Director at Madison Main Street Austin Sims. "Our over 40-year journey is marked by milestones and community spirit. While this recognition celebrates our past achievements, it is also just a glimpse into the journey ahead. The story of Madison is far from finished, and we are so excited to play our part!"

To learn more about the Indiana Main Street program, visit in.gov/ocra/mainstreet/. To learn more about Main Street America, visit mainstreet.org.

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Under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch,who serves as Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs' (OCRA) mission is to work with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to assist communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development. For more information, visit ocra.in.gov.

ABOUT MADISON MAIN STREET PROGRAM
Madison Main Streetis a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization designated by Indiana Main Street and accredited by the National Main Street Center. Madison is one of more than 1,200 Main Street communities across the country with the common goal of preserving America's historic downtown as economically vital centers of the community.​

ABOUT THE GREAT AMERICAN MAIN STREET AWARDS
The Great American Main Street Award program recognizes communities exemplifying the use of the Main Street Approach™ to revitalize commercial districts. Winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a jury of Main Street professionals and leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic preservation. Since the award's inception in 1995, over 100 Main Street programs have been honored as GAMSA communities. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

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