The City of Tyler Main Street Program was one of 60 commended by the Texas Historical Commission for successful annual progress.

The designation is part of a string of annual accreditation honors earned by the local program, which partners with the non-profit Heart of Tyler on downtown revitalization efforts, according to a news release from the city.

The Main Street program in Texas began in 1981, and it focuses on responsibly utilizing a community’s historic assets for economic benefit and to increase quality of life, according to the city.

During fiscal year 2014, more than $120 million was reinvested into Texas’ 89 Main Street districts. Additionally, 352 small businesses and 1,091 jobs were created.

Main Street programs in Texas are staffed, but are reliant on volunteers to carry out the program. Main Street volunteers reported 120,000 hours of work donated in support of the program in 2014, the release reads.

The state Main Street program will recommend its Texas selections for 2015 National Accreditation to the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Upon final approval of the center, the national announcement for all designated Main Street programs across the country will be made at the National Main Street conference in Atlanta March 30 through April 2.

Nationally accredited programs show above average performance in 10 categories. Selection criteria focus on planning, partnerships, staffing, volunteer effort, preservation ethic, training and program assessment through reporting. The state office also works with programs throughout the year by providing various services based upon local needs, according to the release.