(KLZA)-- Falls City, Beatrice, Fremont, Grand Island, and Wayne have all been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ programs for 2022.

Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

In all there were 863 nationally Accredited Main Street America programs this year.

Performance is annually evaluated by the Nebraska Main Street Network in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet the national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building meaningful and sustainable revitalization programs and include standards such as, fostering strong public-private partnerships, supporting small and locally owned businesses, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.