May 1, 2013 -- Three Oregon university students will present research findings May 10 at the Oregon Heritage Conference in Portland. The presentations will begin at 8:30 am at the Architectural Heritage Center.

April 29, 2013 -- Would you like to attend a preservation-related conference, workshop, or training in the next year? The Oregon Heritage Preservation Scholarship provides financial assistance for Oregon residents to attend a preservation-related conference, workshop, or training in the United States between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. Eligible travel expenses include registration fees, transportation, lodging and meals.

April 24, 2013 -- Individuals, organizations and projects that have made outstanding contributions to preserving Oregon heritage will receive 2013 Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards in two weeks in Portland. The awards will be presented at 7 p.m. May 9 at a dinner at the Melody Ballroom. The public is invited to attend the awards presentation.

Dec. 28, 2012 -- Oregon Main Street announced the cities of Milton-Freewater, Newberg, and Salem have been selected for inclusion at the Transforming Downtown level of Oregon Main Street. Communities participating at this level have a high degree of commitment to organizing a downtown revitalization program using the Main Street Approach®. The Main Street Approach® is a comprehensive downtown revitalization program that uses historic preservation as one of its most important tools. It is a practical program that helps communities build on their unique assets.

Sheri Stuart, Oregon Main Street coordinator, said she has seen increased interest in building a comprehensive downtown revitalization effort using the Main Street model and a renewed awareness of the link between local heritage and sustainable economic development across the state.  Communities are developing dedicated local volunteers working together with a shared vision to create vibrant downtowns.  In 2011 alone, communities participating at the Performing Main Street and Transforming Downtown levels saw 51 net new businesses, 435 net new jobs, 216 private sector building improvement projects representing $8.2 million of reinvestment.
Communities participating at the Transforming Downtown level must have a cohesive core of historic or older commercial and mixed-use buildings that represent the community’s architectural heritage and may include compatible in-fill. They must also have a sufficient mass of businesses, buildings, and density to be effective, as well as be compact and pedestrian-oriented. 
The primary emphasis of the Transforming Downtown level is to provide technical assistance to communities selected during their program’s formative years.  Acceptance into this level allows communities to participate in training, community assessments, technical assistance, the Oregon Main Street network, and receive local capacity building support. There isn’t a fee to participate in the Oregon Main Street network.

The selection process included submitting an application that describes their community, downtown area, historical identity, goals, readiness, support, and funding commitments. 

Currently, there are 80 communities in Oregon participating in one of the four levels of the Oregon Main Street Network: Performing Main Street, Transforming Downtown, Exploring Main Street, and Affiliate.  While not a pre-requisite for acceptance at the Transforming Downtown level, all three of the newly designated communities were participating at the Exploring Downtown level of Oregon Main Street.

Oregon Main Street is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, and is a designated coordinating program member of the National Trust Main Street Center. Oregon Main Street provides assistance to all communities whether they are just beginning to explore options for their downtown or are seeking recognition as an accredited Main Street® town.

Editor's Note: The official presentation of the designation will be made during the Nov. 7 Albany City Council meeting.

Albany is the first city designated by the Oregon Heritage Commission as an "Oregon Heritage All-Star Community." The commission created the All-Star program to recognize the strong efforts by communities to broadly preserve and develop heritage resources.

An All-Star designation requires that communities meet at least 15 of 20 criteria related to local heritage. These include heritage tourism efforts, historic preservation programs, photo and document archives, museums, historic cemeteries and more.

"Albany fit the bill right out of the gate, " said Kyle Jansson, coordinator for the Oregon Heritage Commission. "They have the Albany Regional Museum, the Monteith House, a great preservation program with multiple historic districts, a strong Main Street effort with the Albany Downtown Association, and the city and community have made a commitment to heritage. They are working very collaboratively."

The city is required to maintain at least 15 of the criteria to qualify the Heritage All-Star status. Technical assistance will be provided to Albany and other All-Star communities to maintain, sustain and expand the heritage offerings and facilities.

"We are thrilled to be the first city to get this designation," stated Anne Catlin, Albany city planner. "We still plan to work toward achieving all 20 criteria."

Assistance is available for communities seeking to acquire Heritage All-Star Community status. Oregon Heritage of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, that houses the Oregon Heritage Commission, offers technical support, workshops, grants and other resources for all heritage projects in the state. To learn more, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.Gill@state.or.us or 503-986-0685.