by Jim Beller 5-27-2007
Rogersville was recently selected to be a certified Main Street Program participant.

Kimberly Nyberg is state coordinator for the program and works in 21 communities across the state. "The reason why Rogersville was selected is that they should have shown a very strong dedication to the downtown, to historic resources in the downtown and we feel that Rogersville is ready to embark upon a very successful main Street Program," Nyberg said. "I'm here to work with the newly-formed Rogersville Main Street Program."

"The most important criteria for being selected," Nyberg said, "is broad-based community support for an active Main Street Program and a strong commitment to revitalize the downtown."

"Rogersville has demonstrated throughout the years a very strong support in their downtown," she said, "My feeling is that people in the community absolutely adore their downtown and their historic resources and the strong history that lies in the community."

The Main Street Program is a national program started in three small communities in the late 1970s. The program takes a comprehensive look at a specific area, usually the commercial district of the traditional downtown.

The Main Street Program will work in the context of historic preservation, promotion, design, as well as economic restructuring and organization.

"The Main Street Program is sort of like a manager. It focuses on the rich heritage of the commercial district and how it can better itself," Nyberg said, "It's too early to tell exactly how the Main Street Program is going focus its energy. It could be in the area of festivals and celebration, historic tourism, historic preservation, business enhancements and so forth."