Easton Main Street Gets National Recognition

For the sixth year in a row, the Easton Main Street Initiative has gotten accreditation from the National Main Street Center.

Programs get the recognition if they show they "are meeting the challenges of the downtown in the economy head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable," the center's Valecia Crisafull said in a news release.

Easton was one of 25 Pennsylvania communities to get the accreditation for its work last year, the release said.

Among the initiative's 2012 accomplishments:

• Bringing 19 summer concerts to the downtown.
• Holding large public events such as the Peace Candle Lighting and the Chocolate Lovers' Soiree.
• Downtown beautification projects like the jazz mural on Fourth Street.
• Marketing the downtown with projects like the Easton smartphone app.