Anniston earns national Main Street America accreditation for first time
ANNISTON — For the first time in city history, Anniston has received national accreditation from Main Street America, earning the prestigious designation as a 2025 Accredited Main Street America program.
The recognition is the highest honor awarded by the national Main Street America network and reflects Anniston's growing success in economic development, historic preservation and downtown revitalization. Local leaders and business owners say the honor validates the years of work invested in bringing life and opportunity back to the city's historic downtown.
'This recognition is a major milestone for our team and community,' said Karla Eden, executive director of Main Street Anniston. 'Earning accreditation reflects countless hours of collaboration, planning, and dedication. This honor belongs to our volunteers, city partners, local businesses, and staff who work each day to bring that vision to life.'
The rigorous accreditation process requires programs to demonstrate success in six areas: community commitment, inclusive leadership, sustainable operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based economic development, and measurable results. Main Street Anniston was evaluated by both the Main Street Alabama coordinating program and Main Street America.
Eden said the journey to national recognition has not been easy—but the community never lost sight of downtown's potential.
'We've faced challenges, grown through experience, and stayed committed to building a downtown where people want to be,' she said. 'As we celebrate this achievement, we stay focused on the future—creating a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving heart of Anniston.'
For Ann Welch, longtime Noble Street business person and owner of Nunnally's Art & Frame, the recognition is a long-overdue milestone—and a hopeful sign for the future.
'I've always said downtown is an economic development opportunity. It's not just fun and a cutesy thing to do,' she said. 'It is one of our economic drivers, because people like downtowns. But like anything else, you have to make an investment in it.'
Welch emphasized that downtown revitalization isn't just about aesthetics—it's a real economic engine.
She added that investments in small businesses and incentives for property development downtown must match the support often given to large retailers.
'Just as the cities subsidize big box companies that come in here, they're going to need to make it possible for smaller businesses to make a go of it,' she said. 'No one can—or will—ever invest more in a property or a business than they could possibly get a return on.'
Welch is encouraged by the momentum and hopes it continues westward into some of the more neglected parts of downtown, envisioning new restaurants, bars and residential developments that could expand the district's draw.
'We have enough infrastructure down here and a large enough downtown that it can grow and grow and continue,' she said. 'I say keep going in that direction. I think you can build on it.'
She added, 'I'm really happy to see it—happy for Karla Eden and her volunteers, and everyone that's working on that, and for leadership to realize the importance.'
City leaders echoed that sentiment, calling the accreditation a validation of years of hard work—and a springboard for even greater revitalization ahead.
For more information about Main Street Anniston, visit www.mainstreetanniston.com.
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