Media contact:
Jackie Batson, Executive Director
404-268-4102
jackie@downtowncalera.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2025
Calera, Alabama – Calera Main Street 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 designated programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation — Affiliate and Accredited. These designations are a powerful advocacy tool, signaling to local stakeholders, as well as city, state, and national funders, that a Main Street program has an established position within a nationwide movement with a 45-year proven track record of generating impressive economic returns, building local capacity, creating welcoming and inviting communities, and creating lasting impact.
“Main Street America is proud to recognize this year’s 821 Accredited Main Street America programs for their commitment to building strong and vibrant communities,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. “Their tireless efforts show what’s possible when engaged leaders work together to shape places that reflect the people they serve. The continued impact of our network shows that the Main Street movement remains a powerful force for positive transformation.”
Calera Main Street’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and Main Street Alabama, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.
These standards provide the Main Street America network with a strong foundational framework to review progress, recognize strengths, understand trends, and identify strategies that move Main Street programs forward. To quality for Accredited status—Main Street America’s top designation tier—communities must demonstrate a proved track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach and exceptional performance in six areas: 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 2024, Main Street America programs generated $7.65 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,324 new businesses, facilitated the creation of 33,835 new jobs, rehabilitated 10,126 historic buildings, and logged 1.9 million volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, $21.73 was reinvested into their downtown and commercial corridor communities.
In the past year, Calera Main Street continued its momentum with significant progress in both public and private revitalization efforts. The City completed key infrastructure for the Calera Courtyard, including a new pavilion, restrooms, parking, and a sensory-friendly playground—transforming underused space into a lively community destination. Calera Main Street also secured multiple grants and private investments to launch rear façade improvements along Highway 25, addressing long-overdue building repairs and improving ADA access. Additionally, the district welcomed several new businesses, expanded its event offerings, and drew record attendance to festivals, further fueling economic activity downtown.
“Accreditation by Main Street America is more than a badge of honor—it’s validation that the work we’re doing in Calera is driving real, measurable progress,” said Executive Director Jackie Batson. “In 2024, we completed our alley activation project, opened the Calera Courtyard pavilion and playground, launched new events like Calera Nerd Fest and the New Year’s Eve Celebration, and secured funding for transformative rear façade improvements. Each of these milestones is a step toward building a more vibrant, economically resilient downtown, and we’re proud to have national recognition for our momentum.”
Board President Dennis Torrealba shared, “This designation confirms what our board, volunteers, and community partners already know—Calera Main Street is making a lasting difference. From supporting small businesses to investing in historic preservation, we’ve built a model of collaboration that brings people together and gets results. We’re honored to be counted among the top programs in the nation.”
ABOUT CALERA MAIN STREET
Calera Main Street is proud to be a designated Main Street Alabama community. An independent, nonprofit organization, Calera Main Street’s mission is to revitalize its once-bustling downtown business district through a proven four-point approach of design, promotion, organization, and economic vitality. Calera Main Street strives to create a vibrant and thriving downtown district that benefits residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Follow us on Facebook @CaleraMainStreet2019 and Instagram @CaleraMainStreet. For more information, visit www.downtowncalera.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 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, the Main Street Movement has resulted in $115.42 billion reinvested locally, 181,647 net new businesses, 815,895 net new jobs, 345,801 buildings rehabilitated, and 37.3 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
