Celebrate H Street Main Street's Great American Main Street Award tonight, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St)

H Street Main Street Wins 2013 Great American Main Street Award; Will Host Special Celebration April 29 at Atlas Performing Arts Center.

 

H Street Main Street and the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) will host a special event to celebrate H Street NE receiving a 2013 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA). The grand celebration will take place on April 29 from 7 to 9pm at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, located at 1333 H Street, NE. Event details are just below, followed by background information on GAMSA.

 

WHAT: H Street Main Street GAMSA Award Celebration

WHEN: Monday, April 29, 2013 from 7-9pm
WHERE: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street, NE

About the Award

On Sunday, April 14th, H Street Main Street was presented with a 2013 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA), recognizing H Street as an outstanding example of urban commercial revitalization. Each year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive commercial district revitalization. Winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a national jury based on successful and innovative uses of the Main Street Four-Point Approach®. H Street Main Street, which is funded by the Department of Small and Local Business Development’s DC Main Streets Program, is the second program in Washington DC to win this award.

Established in 2002 and managed through Department of Small and Local Business Development's DC Main Streets Program, HSMS was designated as an organization to work with private and local partners to encourage and support small business growth and revitalization along the H Street, NE Corridor. Known as the last of the “riot corridors”, H Street built its legacy off of the civil rights era. Today, H Street stands as a symbol of urban and cultural transformation and is recognized as a neighborhood that has gone through a rebirth, adding a unique and diverse mix of retail and service businesses, drawing thousands people to the neighborhood each year.

“In the last ten years, H Street Main Street has supported the creation of more than 140 new businesses while adding an additional 1500 new jobs to the District,” said DSLBD Interim Director, Robert Summers. “There have been many personal journeys that have been built around H Street, and DSLBD is ecstatic to learn that the small businesses and residents who have contributed to the success of the H Street corridor are being honored for their outstanding efforts.”

“In our field, this is like receiving an Oscar or a Grammy,” said Anwar Saleem, Executive Director of H Street Main Street . “Our eyes have been on this award since the time we knew it existed.”

“I am proud of the work we have done to turn H Street back into a thriving business corridor, supporting local residents and visitors alike. It demonstrates what is possible in urban America today,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, “and I'm looking forward to coming together on April 29 to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.”

The April 29 celebration is free and open to the public. Hors d'oeuvres and beer and wine will be provided and guests will be entertained by music by the William Knowles Trio. Attendees are asked to RSVP at www.hstreet.org or by emailing julia.christian@hstreet.org.