The Mt. Lebanon Partnership, Mt. Lebanon’s nonprofit economic development corporation, has been accredited as a Main Street America program by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The rigorous selection process recognizes older communities’ economic-based commitment to preserving and revitalizing their business districts.
Eric Milliron, Mt. Lebanon’s commercial districts manager, was notified of the designation, following an evaluation by The Pennsylvania Downtown Center, a Main Street partner. The Center recognizes sustainable revitalization driven by public-private partnerships, adequate operating budgets, methods of tracking progress and efforts to preserve historic buildings.
“Main Streets are the heart of our communities, and the work they do to create quality public spaces, catalyze local entrepreneurship and support downtown housing is more important than ever,” says Patrick Frey, National Main Street Center president and CEO. “Across the country, Main Street America programs truly strengthen the economic, social and cultural fabric of their entire communities.”
Mt. Lebanon Partnership sponsors Uptown events such as the Saturday Farmers Market, the annual Artists’ Market, First Friday street festivals and the late-summer Block Party. Funds raised have made Mt Lebanon friendlier to people with disabilities, providing a handicapped accessible drinking fountain in Clearview Common and accessible playground equipment in Mt. Lebanon Park. Construction should begin soon on a Partnership plan for enhancing Uptown’s public space, which took shape with residents’ input.