Discover Easton Designated as a 2025 Accredited Program By Main Street America
Easton Economic Development Corporation (Easton EDC) 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.”
Easton EDC’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and Mainstreet Maryland, 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.
Easton EDC has worked to market, maintain, and bolster Easton’s vibrant downtown under the Discover Easton brand. By supporting businesses and organizations within and outside of the historic core of town and managing over a dozen seasonal events, Easton EDC continues to find new ways to serve the community.
“Achieving Accreditation reflects our dedication and the collaborative efforts invested in enhancing our vibrant, beautiful downtown,” stated Holly DeKarske, Executive Director of Easton EDC. “Downtown Easton has been bustling over the past year, with more than a dozen new businesses—retail shops, art galleries, and dining establishments—joining or expanding in the downtown area and with exciting developments on the horizon for this summer. We are grateful for the support from the Town of Easton, our nonprofit partners, and our dedicated business and property owners. This fall, we will have the opportunity to showcase our hard work to Main Street and Economic Development professionals from all over Maryland when we host the 2025 Main Street Maryland conference.”
For details on all activities, please visit: www.DiscoverEaston.com or email welcome@discovereaston.com. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or participating in our community events, please contact tom@eastonedc.com.
Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland, to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The Easton EDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.
