Lavonia Main Street Program Receives 2016 Accreditation

Lavonia’s Main Street Program just received its annual 2016 National Accreditation.

The designation comes from the National Main Street Center after meeting about a dozen rigorous performance standards.

Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Marie Morse says her office works hard to keep Lavonia’s Main Street Program accredited every year.

“The Lavonia Main Street Program strives to be an accredited Main Street program every year and we do have rigorous standards that we have to meet that the National Main Street sets for us,” Morse said. “So, it’s always an honor to meet these every year.”

There are ten standards the Main Street Program has to pass in order to keep its accredation, according to Morse and this year, Lavonia’s program cleared all of them.

“This includes things like having a strong public/private partnership within your community, maintaining an operating budget, tracking the progress of the different things that happen throughout the town, and actively preserving historic buildings,” Morse said.

Morse said 30 hours of annual ongoing training is also required.

As for those programs and events, Morse says Lavonia has a number of events and activities that come around annually and are always popular with residents and visitors alike.

“We have our concerts downtown, we have plays, we have or fashion and art shows, we have our historic walking and depot tours and of course we have our seasonal events, such as Saturday night movies and festivals. And I’m proud to say have a productive and thriving downtown Farmer’s Market,” Morse explained.

The Farmer’s Market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 7a until noon on Main St downtown in front of the Gazebo.

Lavonia is also currently in the middle of its summer concert series at the Gazebo which features free evening concerts on Friday.

Then every second Saturday of each month is the Classic Car Cruise In.

And this Friday is another performance of the Land of Spirit Folk Life Play, “Aunt Annie’s Amazing Attic.”