LOCAL NEWS

MAIN STREET EL DORADO RECEIVES DESIGNATION AS A 2026 MAIN STREET AMERICA 
ACCREDITED PROGRAM
This highest national designation recognizes El Dorado’s exceptional commitment to communitybased revitalization and positive local impact
El Dorado, Arkansas (May 27, 2026) – Main Street El Dorado has been designated as a 2026
Accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main 
Street America and its partners announce the roster of designated programs in recognition of their 
commitment to creating meaningful improvements in their downtowns through preservation-based 
economic development and community revitalization utilizing the Main Street Approach™.
“We are proud to recognize Main Street El Dorado as a 2026 Accredited Main Street America program 
for your unwavering commitment to grassroots transformation and the extraordinary abilities of your 
staff, board of directors, and volunteers to respond to the needs of their community,” said Erin Barnes, 
President and CEO at Main Street America. “Main Street El Dorado demonstrates a dedication to 
investing in the people and places that make your downtown district special and contribute to the 
collective power of the Main Street movement to build vibrant spaces and durable economies.”
Main Street El Dorado is one of 838 nationally recognized Accredited Main Street America organizations 
and is a part of a network of over 1,600 communities leading positive commercial district transformation 
efforts throughout the United States.
Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation — Accredited and Affiliate. 
These designations are a badge of excellence and a powerful tool, signaling to community members, 
civic leaders, decision makers, funders, and others that the Main Street program holds an established 
position within a nationwide movement with a 45-year proven track record of generating transformative 
economic returns, fostering welcoming and inviting communities, and creating lasting positive 
impact.
Main Street El Dorado’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the
organization’s personnel and board of directors, and the City of El Dorado, 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 framework for reviewing 
progress, recognizing strengths, understanding trends, and identifying strategies to move Main Street 
programs forward. 
To qualify for Accredited status—Main Street America’s top designation tier—communities must 
demonstrate a proven 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 2025, Main Street America programs generated $9.4 billion in local reinvestment, welcomed 6,936 
net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 36,549 net new jobs, rehabilitated 10,623 historic 
buildings, and leveraged 1.8 million volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar a Main Street program 
spent on operations, $23.13 was reinvested in its downtown district.
From the Executive Director, Terry Moore states: “The 2025 designation reflects a year of volunteer 
excellence for Main Street El Dorado. Through more than 1,700 volunteer hours, board members and 
community volunteers demonstrated their dedication to downtown revitalization and the future of the 
community. This recognition is a testament to their passion, leadership, and commitment to making El 
Dorado a stronger and more vibrant place.”
From the 2025 Board of Directors Chair, Melissa Balentine states: “Being nationally accredited by Main 
Street America shows that our downtown is doing things the right way, by supporting local businesses, 
preserving the community’s character, and creating a place that we are proud to call home.”
The Main Street El Dorado Board members, committees, and volunteers achieved many 
acknowledgements in 2025. In March, they were awarded for “The Spirit of Main Street Video.” Soon 
after, they unveiled the Micropark. The Micropark features bright red tables with seating to allow 
people to have a space to gather while visiting the square. The mural that is featured for this space was 
a collaborative community project. In September, they had the honor of hosting “Destination 
Downtown.” Destination Downtown is the South’s premier downtown revitalization conference, hosted 
through a partnership between Main Street Arkansas, Louisiana Main Street, and the Mississippi Main 
Street Association. 
ABOUT MAIN STREET EL DORADO
Main Street El Dorado engages the community to promote community and economic growth for 
continuous downtown revitalization, economic development, and historic preservation in Downtown 
El Dorado. The vision is to maintain a stimulating atmosphere to attract local and out-of-town guests to 
promote economic development, entertainment, and tourism.
For more information, visit mainstreeteldorado.org.
ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservationbased 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™. Today, the network 
includes more than 1,600 communities across the country working to build stronger places through 
preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, the Main Street movement has resulted in $124.67
billion reinvested locally, 188,583 net new businesses, 852,443 net gains in jobs, 356,424 buildings 
rehabbed, and 41 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National 
Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org