Main Street Maryland program celebrates 20 years of economic investment

11/13/2018| Sara Luell

Main Street Maryland program celebrates 20 years of economic investment

11/13/2018 | Sara Luell

Maryland's Main Street communities are the perfect holiday shopping destination. This year, Small Business Saturday takes place on November 24, and there are now 30 Main Streets to visit throughout the state. For even more local shopping suggestions, click here.

Guest post: Sara Luell is the director of communications at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Follow DHCD on Facebook and Twitter.

The State of Maryland recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Main Street Maryland program by announcing two new designated communities: the Town of New Market and the City of Laurel, at an event held in downtown Laurel.

Created in 1998 and managed by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Main Street Maryland program builds partnerships with local governments, nonprofits, and businesses to strengthen the economic development potential in Maryland's historic downtown districts and neighborhoods.

As the state coordinating program of the National Main Street Center, Main Street Maryland is part of a national network of 42 state programs across the country and is authorized to bestow official, nationally-recognized, Main Street designations for communities in Maryland. The City of Laurel is the first designated Maryland Main Street in Prince George's County. The Town of New Market is the fifth Main Street community to be designated in Frederick County, making it the county with the most designated Main Streets. With these two designations, Main Street Maryland has now designated 30 communities statewide, supporting the locally-owned shops and restaurants, exciting events and festivals, and a variety of activities that provide an authentic Maryland experience for residents and visitors.

To date, neighborhood revitalization and redevelopment activities in designated Main Street Maryland communities have supported approximately 2,800 new and expanding businesses; created more than 10,000 jobs; leveraged nearly $305 million in private investment for nearly 3,900 projects, as well as nearly $210 million in public investment for more than 1,200 projects, and; sponsored almost 700,000 hours of volunteer work with a wage value of more than $19 million.

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