The Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Colorado Main Street program announced Aug. 4 that Wellington has been named a Main Street community. Three other communities — Leadville, Elizabeth and Central City — also received the designation.
Acceptance into the Main Street program signifies the communities’ commitment to downtown revitalization and historic preservation. The program advocates community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of central business districts based on their traditional assets of unique architecture, personal service and local ownership. These four cities will join Colorado’s 14 other Main Street communities.
“The Main Street program provides a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization,” said Irv Halter, DOLA executive director. “The approach includes economic development to expand existing businesses, attract new ones and create jobs.”
In 2014, Colorado Main Street Communities created 48 new businesses and saw a 54 percent increase in job creation with 139 new full-time and 70 new part-time positions.
DOLA manages the Main Street program, which is funded in part by a grant from the State Historical Fund.