Through participation in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program and Downtown Delaware, a division of the Delaware Economic Development Office, the DNP is able to model its approach to downtown revitalization after that of the National Main Street Program. This approach centers on the use of committees dedicated to design, organization, promotion and economic restructuring issues. The DNP modified these roles slightly in order to make them best fit the needs of downtown Newark, also creating committees to deal with issues of merchant services and communication, as well as parking. Each of the committees creates and implements an annual work plan to be approved by the Partnership’s Board, allowing for a clear and active movement toward accomplishing a variety of goals. The Committees develop work plans which are reviewed and approved by the DNP Board of Directors. The approach allows the Board to chart the course for downtown enrichment and provide a directional framework for each of the working committees: Design, Economic Enhancement, Events, Merchants and Parking. All the Committees include volunteers from a range of industries, interests and occupations, which helps to ensure that the diverse and unique atmosphere of downtown Newark is maintained.
This organization strategy had been successful for downtown Newark. For the eleventh year in a row, the Partnership has been designated as a Certified National Main Street Community by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, showing that the accomplishments of the DNP are appreciated not only by Newark, but far outside the city limits! In addition to national recognition, the DNP was recently recognized by the State of Delaware as the community hosting the Best Retail Event (Downtown Newark’s Food & Brew Fest) and having the Best Economic Restructuring Project (the Downtown Newark Gift Card Program) at the inaugural Delaware/Maryland Revitalization Conference in the fall of 2010.
The Partnership owes this success to the hard work of the Board and Committee members, as their dedication allows the DNP to meet the high standards necessary to earn national recognition for excellence in downtown revitalization.
Every DNP Board meeting is open to the public. For further information regarding the Partnership and its activities and committees, please contact Ricky Nietubicz at 302-366-7030 or e-mail the DNP at dnp@newark.de.us.
