Main Street Kent has been reaccredited, receiving their 2014 certification, by Heritage Ohio. 

Kent has been recognized as being proficient in the ten criteria, which are set by the National Main Street Center. The ten standards of performance include community support, developed vision and mission statement, comprehensive work plan, historic preservation effort, active board members, an adequate budget, a program manager, training for staff and volunteers, reporting statistics and being a member of the National Trust Main Street Network. 

Main Street Kent scored a 97 out of 100 on their evaluation. 

Kent has made tremendous strides since they joined the Ohio Main Street Program, said Jeff Siegler, director of revitalization at Heritage Ohio, in a press release.

“(Kent) has become a model community in terms of revitalizing downtown,” Siegler said. “Cities all over Ohio look to Kent to learn how to turn around downtown.”

Heather Malarcik, executive director of Main Street Kent, said they would continue on the path they are currently on. She said they would continue to improve and work with Heritage Ohio.

“We owe it to the community to do anything we can,” Malarcik said. “ We want people to realize that Kent is a destination and it’s not the same place it was a couple years ago.”

Contact Sky Fought at [email protected].