City of Eagle Pass Receives 2023 Main Street America Accreditation
Eagle Pass, TX – City of Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., and the City Council are proud to announce that our Eagle Pass Main Street Program has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ Program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 862 Accredited Main Street America programs, and their steadfast dedication to nurture economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, Interim President & CEO of Main Street America. “The increase in the size and impact of our network speaks volumes to the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of local communities and drive innovative solutions.”
“As Mayor for the great City of Eagle Pass, on behalf of myself and our City Council Members, we would like to congratulate our Staff for all of their hard work in achieving this unique designation,” said City of Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. “The designation is a prime indicator of our full commitment to the revitalization of downtown Eagle Pass.”
“Despite all of the post pandemic challenges, our Staff worked diligently in order to meet the rigorous performance standards set by the Main Street America™ Program,” said Ivan Morua, Acting City Manager. “The City of Eagle Pass will continue to strive to do its best as it recovers from the pandemic.”
In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, it generated $24.07 of new investment back into their downtown communities.
Collectively, 2 million people live or work within the boundaries of designated Main Street America districts. An estimated workforce of 1.1 million people contributes their skills and expertise to advancing the missions of these historic downtowns and commercial corridors.
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 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, shares both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
In 2022, Eagle Pass Main Street saw twelve (12) small businesses open or relocate to our downtown district and hosted several events and block parties attracting over 10,000 visitors to our downtown that supported various downtown retailers and vendors looking to expand. The arts and culture of our community was celebrated with a “Viva Eagle Pass” mural commissioned by recognized San Antonio muralists, Los Otros, as well as through the ongoing programs held at the City of Eagle Pass Art and Culture Center that is in downtown Eagle Pass. Our mission of preservation-based economic development showed triumphant with the purchase of historic properties by both private and public investments that will not only add to the aesthetic of our downtown but will give our community a unique sense of connection to the past. In 2022, Eagle Pass Main Street tracked at total of $9,348,241 in total combined public/private reinvestment in downtown that includes nine (9) completed façade grant projects, land purchase for a new hotel construction, and various contributions from downtown stakeholders and investors who are not only committed to historic restoration but to the continued growth of economic development in downtown Eagle Pass.
“The work that Main Street Manager, Zenaida Rodriguez and the Board have accomplished in such little time is incredible,” stated Arturo Marquez, Economic Development Director. “Approving a downtown master plan, increasing private investment, receiving grants from several agencies like EDA, Office of the Governor Gregg Abbott, improving and advocating for historic preservation, establishing an Arts & Entertainment District, bringing in several new murals from nationally recognized artists, all of this is testament of the hard work of the program, we are pleased to be recognized by Main Street America for the efforts of the Main Street Program.”
Eagle Pass Main Street’s performance is evaluated annually by the Texas Main Street Program, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. To qualify for Accreditation status, communities must meet a set of rigorous standards that include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.
The Eagle Pass Main Street Program was founded in 2011 and is dedicated to preserving our community’s history and culture through preservation-based economic development. With the support and guidance of the Texas Main Street Program, our organization uses Main Street America’s Four-Point Approach™ of Design, Economic Vitality, Promotion, and Operations to enhance quality of life for residents and support downtown small businesses. For more information, please visit our website at www.chooseeaglepass.com.
