OPELIKA MAIN STREET RECEIVES DESIGNATION AS A 2026 MAIN STREET AMERICA ACCREDITED PROGRAM
This highest national designation recognizes Opelika’s exceptional commitment to community-based revitalization and positive local impact
Opelika, AL [May 8, 2026] – Opelika Main Street 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 using the Main Street Approach™.
“We are proud to recognize Opelika Main Street 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. “Opelika Main Street 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.”
Opelika Main Street 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.
Opelika Main Street’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and Main Street Alabama, 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.
Since 2014, Opelika Main Street’s efforts have helped catalyze over $60 million in public and private investment in downtown Opelika, supporting reinvestment in historic buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces. These investments have also contributed to the creation of 72 new businesses, expanding local job opportunities and strengthening the downtown economy. Together, these outcomes reflect Opelika Main Street’s ongoing commitment to fostering a downtown that is economically resilient, culturally rich, and reflective of the community it serves.
"2025 was a defining year for Opelika Main Street as we focused on a clear, intentional strategy to rebuild our foundation, reeducate our stakeholders on the power of the Main Street Approach, and reintroduce our mission to the community,” said Kelsey Sullivan, Opelika Main Street Executive Director. “By expanding our district to nearly 200 businesses, awarding over $33,000 in facade grants, and seeing a 50% surge in volunteer engagement, we have proven that Downtown Opelika is gaining incredible momentum. Achieving our 2026 National Accreditation is the ultimate validation of this work, signaling to residents and investors alike that we are dedicated to a vibrant, sustainable, and historic downtown for years to come."
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ABOUT OPELIKA MAIN STREET
Founded in 1987, Opelika Main Street is a non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization and economic development of historic Downtown Opelika. As a Designated Community through Main Street Alabama and an Accredited program through Main Street America, Opelika Main Street utilizes the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach—Organization, Economic Vitality, Design, and Promotion—to create a vibrant, sustainable downtown district. By fostering public-private partnerships, supporting over 200 local businesses, and preserving the community’s historic character, Opelika Main Street ensures that downtown remains the heart of the city for years to come. For more information, visit www.opelikamainstreet.org.
ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based 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 gain 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.
