posted in Chamber of Commerce on May 19, 2025

Waverly, IA, May 19, 2025– Waverly Chamber of Commerce & Main Street has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of designated programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation — Affiliate and Accredited. These designations are a powerful advocacy tool, signaling to local stakeholders, as well as city, state, and national funders, that a Main Street program has an established position within a nationwide movement with a 45-year proven track record of generating impressive economic returns, building local capacity, creating welcoming and inviting communities, and creating lasting impact. 

“Main Street America is proud to recognize this year’s 821 Accredited Main Street America programs for their commitment to building strong and vibrant communities,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. “Their tireless efforts show what’s possible when engaged leaders work together to shape places that reflect the people they serve. The continued impact of our network shows that the Main Street movement remains a powerful force for positive transformation.”

Waverly Chamber of Commerce & Main Street’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and Main Street Iowa, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.

These standards provide the Main Street America network with a strong foundational framework to review progress, recognize strengths, understand trends, and identify strategies that move Main Street programs forward. To qualify for Accredited status—Main Street America’s top designation tier—communities must demonstrate a proved track record of achieving outcomes in alignment with the Main Street Approach and exceptional performance in six areas: broad-based community commitment to revitalization; inclusive leadership and organizational capacity; diversified funding and sustainable program operations; strategy-driven programming; preservation-based economic development; and demonstrated impact and results.

In 2024, Main Street America programs generated $7.65 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,324 new businesses, facilitated the creation of 33,835 new jobs, rehabilitated 10,126 historic buildings, and logged 1.9 million volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, $21.73 was reinvested into their downtown and commercial corridor communities.  

Despite the challenges brought on by the Bremer Avenue Bridge closure, Waverly’s Main Street district demonstrated steady progress and community resilience in 2024. Through a combination of strategic marketing campaigns, enhanced signage, and community events, the Chamber Main Street helped maintain visibility and access for local businesses. These efforts supported real economic activity in downtown Waverly, including $978,302 in private investment in downtown properties and volunteers generously donating over 1,500 hours of their time, underscoring the strong community spirit behind every step.

“Being recognized as an Accredited Main Street America community is not just a designation—it’s a reflection of our shared dedication to building a thriving, resilient Waverly,” said Chelsea Petersen, Executive Director of Waverly Chamber of Commerce & Main Street. “In 2024, we saw firsthand the power of this work, with local business growth, reinvestment in our historic downtown, and continued community support that drives our mission forward. Accreditation affirms that our grassroots approach is delivering real, visible results for our residents, businesses, and visitors alike.”

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ABOUT WAVERLY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & MAIN STREET

The Waverly Chamber of Commerce Main Street Program develops and sustains dynamic, progressive programs supporting the economic and business environment to provide a quality experience for residents and visitors to our community and historic downtown district. For more information, visit www.waverlychamber.com.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, the Main Street Movement has resulted in $115.42 billion reinvested locally, 181,647 net new businesses, 815,895 net new jobs, 345,801 buildings rehabilitated, and 37.3 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.