Center City of Amarillo has once again received national accreditation as a Main Street America program for the 24th consecutive year, according to Beth Duke, Center City executive director.
Center City became a Main Street city in 2002 and has kept the accreditation throughout those years.
“This accreditation means that Center City meets or exceeds the standards for a thriving downtown district,” Duke said.
The organization is a member of the Texas Main Street program of the Texas Historical Commission, as well as a member of Main Street America. The program brings people to downtown Amarillo through organization, events, promotion, design and facilitation of economic restructuring.
Some of the events provided by Center City include the annual High Noon on the Square and Jazztober concert series, the annual Electric Light Parade in December, a mural run, senior banners, and the annual Imagine the Possibilities Tour of historic and significant buildings in downtown Amarillo.
Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of accredited programs to recognize exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach, according to information provided by Center City of Amarillo.
Center City is one of 1,291 programs throughout the country to achieve accreditation, the top designation by Main Street America.
In 2025, Main Street America programs generated $9.4 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,936 new businesses, and facilitated the creation of 36,549 new jobs. Together, the programs documented 1.8 million volunteer hours, according to Duke.
“As a Main Street city, Center City compiles quarterly reinvestment figures showing funds reinvested in our historic downtown,” Duke said. “In 2025, reinvestment in downtown Amarillo totaled $113,114,414. This includes private investment, public investments and public-private partnerships.”
Duke said since 2007, when Center City started its Strategic Action Plan, they have documented nearly $887 million in reinvestment in Amarillo’s historic downtown.
Years earlier, since 1994, Center City has administered a façade grant program, which has improved downtown and reinvested more than $1.5 million with matching grants since its start.
Center City’s performance is annually evaluated by Texas Main Street, which works with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet national performance standards.
“Center City is a nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors,” Duke said. “Together with all of our community partners and volunteers, we are working to make downtown a destination that bridges our historic past with a thriving future for visitors and residents alike.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Center City of Amarillo scores 24th Main Street accreditation
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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