Press Release

Representative Bill Grant Honored for his Leadership by the National Trust

NEW ORLEANS (June 6, 2006) –Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center®, honored Representative Bill Grant of the Washington State Legislature with its 2006 Main Street Civic Leadership Award for his efforts to champion local Main Street communities through his unwavering support of the Main Street Bill. The award was presented during the 2006 National Main Streets Conference in New Orleans.

Annually, the National Trust gives a Main Street Civic Leadership Award to an elected official, a government staff person, public agency or nonprofit organization at the local, state or national level for their contributions to the revitalization of historic and older traditional commercial districts.

"Success in any aspect of revitalization is not possible without good leadership," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "We honor Representative Grant today, not only for his leadership but also for the creativity he brings to revitalization challenges."

Since the Washington State Main Street Program began in 1984, the statewide coordinating program has supported the efforts of comprehensive local Main Street programs, which in turn work actively to support the revitalization of their historic and traditional neighborhood commercial districts. Like Main Street programs across the U.S., the Washington local programs constantly struggle to raise and sustain funds to support their efforts. Six years ago, the Washington Main Street Program and its advocacy partners galvanized their members and legislators, like Rep. Bill Grant, to support a Bill that would codify the statewide Main Street program and help provide a funding stream to support local downtown revitalization organizations. Despite concerted efforts over four legislative sessions, the bill did not pass. In 2005, the fate of the Main Street Bill appeared to be the same – but Rep. Grant refused to let it die again. Literally on the last day and in the final hour of the 2005 legislative session, Rep. Grant rallied members on both sides of the aisle and included the Main Street Bill language in a House Appropriations Bill. When the end-of-the session gavel fell at 10:30 PM, the Main Street Bill had passed. The Main Street Bill:

  • codified the Washington State Main Street Program as part of the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development;
  • established a statewide Main Street Advisory Committee; and
  • created a tax credit incentive that encourages businesses to make qualifying contributions to a designated local downtown revitalization program. Even though the credit is capped at $100,000 for any one organization, this resource would allow Washington State’s Main Street programs to essentially double their annual budgets.

Since its passage in 2005, businesses across the state of Washington are opting to contribute or increase their existing contributions to local commercial district revitalization efforts. Banner Bank, for example, recently made a $133,000 donation to the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, the Walla Walla Main Street program organization.

For more information about Rep. Grant’s award-winning contributions to Washington State's commercial district revitalization efforts and the 2005 Main Street Bill, contact: Megan Walsh, Office of State Rep. Bill Grant, (360) 786-7828, Walsh.Megan@leg.wa.gov; or, Timothy Bishop, Director, Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, 509-529-8755, timothy@downtownwallawalla.com. To learn about the Washington State Main Street Program, visit www.downtown.wa.gov. For more information about the National Trust’s Main Street Awards program and the three 2006 Main Street Leadership award winners, visit www.mainstreet.org/awards or call (202) 588-6219.