Heritage Ohio and the Ohio Main Street Program have announced that Marietta Main Street has received National Accreditation through Main Street America.

The designation is awarded through the Ohio Main Street Program, which serves as the state’s coordinating agency for Main Street America. Marietta became a member of the Ohio Main Street Program in 2013.

The accreditation followed a full-day evaluation visit in which Marietta Main Street demonstrated compliance with national standards for downtown revitalization. To qualify, communities must show measurable outcomes in areas including grassroots-driven revitalization, public-private partnerships, economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and preservation of historic places and cultural assets.

Jen Tinkler, executive director of Marietta Main Street, said the accreditation reflects oversight at both the state and national levels.

“Every state has a Main Street program. In Ohio, that’s Heritage Ohio,” Tinkler said. “Above them is a national Main Street called Main Street America, which has even stricter rules and guidelines we have to follow.”

Tinkler said Heritage Ohio conducts annual progress visits that are reviewed by Main Street America.

“If we have checked all the boxes with Main Street America, then we get our national accreditation,” she said.

According to Tinkler, national accreditation provides access to additional resources and opportunities for downtown businesses.

“It gives us opportunities for grants for the downtown businesses,” she said. “It gives us opportunity for a voice at the state and national level, and access to resources and networks, both within Ohio and nationally.”

Tinkler said Marietta Main Street is currently in its 12th year of national accreditation.

“It means something to get, and it means something to maintain,” she said.

She noted that some downtown businesses are currently applying for an American Express grant offered through Main Street America.

Heritage Ohio serves as the state’s official historic preservation and Main Street organization. Since 1998, it has contracted with the National Main Street Center to coordinate the Main Street Program in Ohio. The organization focuses on preservation-based economic development, downtown revitalization and cultural tourism.

Tinkler also highlighted an upcoming Marietta Main Street event. The annual Ice Festival is scheduled for Jan. 17, with ice sculptor Tyson Whistler of Whistler Ice Works creating 19 preset sculptures and one live sculpture on the Armory Lawn.

More information about Heritage Ohio and involvement opportunities is available at www.HeritageOhio.org