Huntington has been chosen as a West Virginia ON TRAC community. This makes the city one of only 12 members statewide and one of two cities chosen through the competitive application process since 2012.
Created by Main Street West Virginia in 2008, ON TRAC stands for Organization, Training, Revitalization and Capacity. ON TRAC communities receive help with neighborhood revitalization training, strength assessments, action-plans, grant information and mentoring.
Main Street West Virginia, a program under the West Virginia Development Office, focuses on economic revitalization of historic downtown and neighborhood commercial districts. ON TRAC communities may remain in that program or have the option to work toward Main Street designation. A community must be a successful ON TRAC member for at least two years before applying to become a fully designated Main Street Community.
“West Virginia has wonderful small towns and cities,” said Governor Jim Justice. “We want to revitalize the downtown districts of our unique and historic communities so they become even better places to live, work and visit.”
“West Huntington’s inclusion in the ON TRAC Program will further enhance the City of Huntington’s efforts to revitalize this neighborhood,” Huntington Mayor Steve Williams said. “We expect that the expertise provided by the ON TRAC program will boost West Huntington to become a fully-designated Main Street participant in the future.”
“The citizens, organizations and local government of West Huntington showcase a real commitment to downtown revitalization,” said Nikki Martin, Main Street West Virginia and ON TRAC coordinator. “Our team is proud they have achieved ON TRAC designation, and we look forward to providing resources to help them continue to build an economically sound and vibrant community.”
More announcements about ON TRAC and Main Street communities are expected in August and September. Main Street West Virginia will also mark its 30th anniversary in September.
Currently there are 12 accredited Main Street West Virginia Communities and, with the addition of Huntington, 12 ON TRAC Communities.
The state’s accredited Main Street communities are Charleston East End, Charleston West Side, Elkins, Fairmont, Kingwood, Mannington, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Philippi, Point Pleasant, Ripley and Ronceverte.
The West Virginia ON TRAC cities are Belington, Beverly, Charles Town, Huntington, Kenova, Marlinton, Parkersburg, Parsons, Romney, Rowlesburg, Shinnston and Sutton.
