KILGORE — Filling in the gaps took time, Melida Heien says, but the Kilgore Main Street Program’s list of achievements in 2014 earned national accreditation this year.

Returning from the Texas Main Street Director’s Winter Training in Nacogdoches last week, the city’s Main Street manager noted the local program has achieved the standards set by the National Trust of Historic Preservation as well as the Texas Main Street Program.

Main Street communities in Texas submit an annual report in early October highlighting the year’s accomplishments and the work that’s been done in the community.

At the same time, Heien added, the programs are evaluated in numerous work-areas including support, vision/ mission, work plan, preservation ethic, board/committees, budget, manager expertise, training requirements, reporting and maintaining National Main Street membership.

Despite a gap between former Main Street Manager Clara Chaffin’s resignation in late 2013 and Heien’s arrival in spring 2014, Kilgore’s program earned the distinction.

“There’s a lot of paperwork-type things, just to kind of assess us to make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” Heien explained. “We did have some months where there was no director in the position so some reports didn’t get turned in. I got us caught up as much as I could.

Reporting the achievement to council and advisory board members, “I can only take a small amount of credit for this — your support and dedication to our downtown is really what helps us achieve and maintain the high standard of an accredited program!”

Ultimately, Heien added, the accreditation process gives her a better framework for the program — what is done well, what’s OK and what needs work.

The national and state recognition are important accolades, she said, but the program is still tightly-focused locally.

“Your individual community’s program is still very autonomous. We know what we need to do for the betterment of Kilgore and that is the most important thing,” she said. “I’m not doing things to get points, our Main Street Advisory Board is not doing things to get points.

“We’re doing things that make our community better. That’s points enough for me.”