Carolyn Bennett doesn’t think the Oxford Downtown Development Authority toots its own horn enough.
‘You have to be proud of what you have accomplished and celebrate that,? said the DDA’s new executive director.
To that end, Bennett is inviting everyone ? volunteers, business owners, village officials, residents ? to help celebrate the one-year anniversary of Oxford becoming a nationally certified Main Street community.
‘It’s a big deal,? she said. ‘It takes a lot of work to do the things Main Street asks you to do. It takes a lot of man hours.?
Bennett has planned a special anniversary ceremony for 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19 in the village’s Community Room.
‘I don’t think there was enough recognition (last year) ? at least from the people I’ve talked to,? she said.
Following an annual evaluation performed by county and national Main Street representatives in late January 2006, Oxford became one of four Main Street Oakland County communities to receive national certification, according to Bob Donohue, principal planner with the county’s Planning and Economic Development Services. The others were Rochester, Ferndale and Ortonville.
A community earns certification when it meets a list of 10 specific criteria set forth by the National Trust Main Street Center.
Outside Oakland County, the City of Niles is the only other community in Michigan to receive its certification, according to Joe Borgstrom, of the state Housing Development Authority.
Meeting all 10 requirements ‘means you’re making the Main Street program work for your community,? Bennett explained. Oxford and Ortonville were the first communities to achieve their national certification after being in the Main Street program for only a year.
‘It’s very unusual that a program gets certified in its first year,? Bennett said.
‘I expect (Oxford) to be certified again? said Donohue, referring the upcoming annual evaluation on Tuesday, Feb. 13
Bennett said the DDA ‘absolutely? should make a big deal over this significant achievement. For four years the City of Portland, where Bennett previously served as DDA director, tried unsuccessfully to get its Main Street certification.
‘I guess you have to come from another community that has worked very hard at trying to get it to realize how important it is and what it means,? she said.
So, what’s the best way to celebrate the anniversary of Oxford’s certification?
‘I got a really big cake from Sweet & Savory,? said Bennett, noting it’s chocolate with a white mousse filling.
She also plans to present the DDA board and village president with a framed copy of the certificate Oxford received from the county last year.
‘It was pinned on the bulletin board here and I got it framed,? Bennett said.
The DDA earned numerous awards last year including Most Volunteer Hours (4,000-plus), Best New Downtown Master Plan and Best Attendance at Main Street Oakland County workshops.