Baltimore, Maryland (May 9, 2005) - Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic. Preservation and Doug Loescher, Executive Director of the National Trust Main Street Center®, today awarded New Iberia, Louisiana a 2005 Great American Main Street Award for its successful efforts in revitalizing its commercial district through the preservation-based Main Street Program, during the Opening Plenary Session of the 2005 National Main Street Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
“The revitalization of downtown New Iberia is the direct result of the community’s unified goal to reestablish the historic commercial district,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Today’s downtown New Iberia is an extension of its status as a Antebellum center of culture, commerce, and tourism in the State of Louisiana.”
“Founded in 1779, the once resplendent Antebellum New Iberia experienced decline typical of many towns in the U.S. in the early 1970's. In the 1990s, realizing the impact of the area’s oil industry decline, city officials, business leaders, and merchants believed a solid Main Street program would have a positive impact on the downtown commercial district, and applied to the Louisiana Main Street Program. Once begun, the Main Street program sparked a new beginning for the city.
New Iberia’s downtown revitalization achievements exemplify the Main Street approach to commercial district revitalization. Private investors and community volunteers work along side the city government to create preservation-based revitalization initiatives that bring consumers and businesses back to the traditional heart of the community.
The New Iberia Main Street team searches for innovative ways to meet the challenges of progressive redevelopment in a historic area. Through Main Street’s economic restructuring component, once vacant traditional retail buildings have been transformed into locations for thriving small businesses. Intensive promotion and use of the state’s facade grant program over the past 10 years has enhanced the design of the commercial historic district as business owners restore and preserve their storefronts. Building on the community’s inherent assets as an economic niche, a consistent brand theme of the charm, beauty, and vitality that defines historic New Iberia is presented throughout all promotional venues, such as brochures, web-sites and, convention planner guides.
Since the New Iberia Main Street program began, its track record for commercial district revitalization and economic impact is unquestionable. In the 10 years between 1994 - 2004, 117 new businesses have been established; 426 new jobs have been created; and the total private investment in the downtown has been $19,827,729. Overall the total amount of re-investment in the community from public and private sources has exceeded $22 million.
Other 2005 Great American Main Street Awards winners are: Barracks Row, Washington D.C.; Emporia, Kansas; Frederick, Maryland; and Washington Gateway in Boston. Each winning community will received a $2,500 cash prize to further its revitalization efforts, a bronze plaque commemorating its award, road signs, and a certificate.
Established in 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center® helps communities of all sizes revitalize their traditional historic commercial districts. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Main Street Center has been the leader of the preservation-based community revitalization movements and has proven historic preservation and community-driven economic development affects lasting change. Active in more than 1,800 downtown and neighborhood business districts, the Main Street program has generated more than $18.3 billion in new investment. Participating communities have created 244,543 net new jobs, 60,577 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 96,200 buildings, leveraging an average of $35.17 in new investment for every dollar spent on Main Street initiatives.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America’s diverse historic places and revitalize communities. Its Washington DC headquarters staff, six regional offices and 26 historic sites work with the Trust’s 270,000 members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states.
For more information on the Louisiana Main Street Program please visit www.crt.state.la.us/crt/ocd/hp/MainStreet/mainstreet.html. For more information on the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the 2005 Great American Main Street Awards, visit www.nationaltrust.org. For more information on the New Iberia Main Street program, contact Jane Braud, C.M.S.M. at (337)369-2330, by fax at (337) 373-3108 or by e-mail at jbraud@cityofnewiberia.com.
