Celina Main Street Earns 2026 Accredited Designation

The City of Celina has been designated as a 2026 Accredited Main Street America program. This national recognition honors the organization for meeting rigorous performance standards established by Main Street America. The designation acknowledges the program's strong commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.

Main Street America and its partners announce the roster of designated programs annually. This process recognizes ongoing efforts to create meaningful improvements in historic downtown districts. These improvements are achieved through strategic revitalization, economic growth, and community engagement.

Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America, issued a statement regarding the designation. She noted the organization is proud to recognize Celina Main Street for its unwavering commitment to grassroots transformation. She highlighted the extraordinary abilities of the staff, board of directors, and volunteers to respond to community needs. Barnes stated that the City of Celina demonstrates a dedication to investing in the people and places that make the downtown district special.

Celina Main Street is one of 838 nationally recognized Accredited Main Street America organizations. It is part of a network of more than 1,600 communities leading positive commercial district transformation efforts across the United States. Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation: Accredited and Affiliate. These designations serve as a badge of excellence. They demonstrate that a program is part of a nationwide movement with a 45-year track record of generating transformative economic returns.

The accreditation reflects Celina's continued investment in preserving the character of its Historic Downtown while supporting economic vitality and long-term community engagement. The program's performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the Downtown Manager, the Celina Downtown Commission, and the Texas Main Street Program. These entities work in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.

To qualify for Accredited status, communities must demonstrate measurable success in six key areas. These areas include broad-based community commitment to revitalization, inclusive leadership and organizational capacity, diversified funding and sustainable program operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based economic development, and demonstrated impact and results.

In 2025, Main Street America programs generated $9.4 billion in local reinvestment. They welcomed 6,936 net new businesses and facilitated the creation of 36,549 net new jobs. Additionally, they rehabilitated 10,623 historic buildings and leveraged 1.8 million volunteer hours nationwide. On average, for every dollar a Main Street program spent on operations, $23.13 was reinvested into its downtown district.