About Commerce

May 4, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY — Figures released from the Oklahoma Main Street Center detail program totals and two local community programs hitting private reinvestment milestones in March. 

“Private reinvestment in the local community speaks volumes,” said Linda Barnet, director of the Oklahoma Main Street Center. “It shows pride in the historic Main Street downtowns across the state.  Our local programs continue to flourish and grow and that is directly a result of hard work by our managers and their volunteers.” 

Private reinvestment in Sulphur reached both the $10 and $15 million marks in the month of March.  Sulphur has been a Main Street Community since 1997. 

Laverne, a Main Street Community since 2009, reached the $1 million mark.

Information gathered throughout the year from the 39 active Main Street Communities including three urban areas includes:

• More than $33 million in both private and public reinvestment
• More than 65 building façade renovations
• More than 13,000 volunteer hours
• More than 60 jobs
• 75 business openings, relocations or expansions

Cumulative numbers for the entire statewide program since 1985 include:

• More than $882 million in both private and public reinvestment
• More than 4,000 façade rehabilitations
• More than 981,000 volunteer hours
• More than 14,000 jobs
• More than 4,500 business openings, relocations or expansions

The Oklahoma Main Street Center is one of 42 state coordinating programs around the nation.  Under the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Main Streets across the nation, operate off of the Main Street Four Point Approach™ including Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Restructuring. 

For more information on the Main Street Program call 405-815-5271 or log onto www.OKcommerce.gov/mainstreet.