Downtown Farmington gets National Main Street Accreditation

 Historic Downtown Farmington’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and New Mexico MainStreet, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.

From the City of Farmington

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Historic Downtown Farmington 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.”

 Historic Downtown Farmington’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and New Mexico MainStreet, 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 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 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.  

 Both the New Mexico MainStreet and Main Street America Programs provide vital support to communities by fostering economic revitalization, historic preservation, and local entrepreneurship. Through these programs, Historic Downtown Farmington has experienced significant growth, generating $1,750,000.00 in private investment and the creation of 31 new jobs during calendar year 2024. This success reflects the power of strategic partnerships, community engagement, and targeted investment in preserving and enhancing downtown districts. These programs help strengthen local economies while celebrating cultural heritage and creating vibrant, thriving public spaces.

“We’re thrilled to see the Main Street program translating into tangible results—$1.75 million in private investment and 31 new jobs reflect the dedication of our business owners, volunteers, and community partners to revitalize Historic Downtown Farmington and strengthen our local economy.” — Karen Lupton, Downtown Coordinator, Historic Downtown Farmington.