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Downtown Oregon City is a Great American Main Street Semi-Finalist
Delegation heads to Award Ceremony in Kansas to be held March 26

Oregon City, Oregon -- Leaders of the Downtown Oregon City Association (DOCA), City Commission, State, and County Representatives travel to Kansas City, Mo. To attend the Main Street Now Conference and on March 26, they hope to take home the 2018 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA).

Oregon City was nominated among nine other cities as a Great American Main Street Semi-Finalist. Semi-Finalists were chosen by a national jury of community development professionals and representatives of government agencies involved in economic development and historic preservation, exemplifying the power of the Main Street Approach(R) to transform traditional downtowns and neighborhood business districts. At the conference, three winners will be chosen from the group of Semi-Finalists.

National Main Street Center officials say the work of DOCA has paid off in transforming a downtown industrial district into the civic heart of the city.

"Downtown's transformation began with catalytic investments in the streetscape and façade grant programs which have attracted a diverse group of independent businesses," said Jonathan Stone, Executive Director of the Downtown Oregon City Association. Since 2009, nearly $42 million has been invested in the district's buildings, streetscapes, and infrastructure and 28 net new businesses have opened. Stone said, "This is an honor shared by the Oregon City community, downtown businesses, property owners, and our partner organizations. It validates the sweat and tears of everyone that has given of their time and money to make Downtown Oregon City a place we can all be proud of."

"Downtown Oregon City's ten years of brilliant planning and nurturing of a collaborative downtown community has earned them this prestigious nomination," stated Nancy Ide, Oregon City Commissioner, and Downtown Oregon City Association Board Member.

"The transformation of Downtown Oregon City over the past nine years has been absolutely remarkable," claimed Sheri Stuart, coordinator of the statewide Oregon Main Street program. "When DOCA joined the Main Street network, there were just a handful of participating Main Street programs in the state. Now, there are over 90. Many of our programs look to Oregon City as a model revitalization effort. We are thrilled DOCA has made it this far in the process."

The National Main Street Center reported that together, this year's semi-finalists have generated more than half a billion dollars in public and private reinvestment. The group of 10 communities created more than 4,900 new jobs, opened 917 new businesses and rehabilitated 1,232 buildings.

Along with Oregon City, other contenders for the award are Berlin, Md., Brunswick, Maine, Chillicothe, Mo., Grapevine, Texas, Howell, Mich., Saline, Mich., Rock Springs, Wyo., Tupelo, Miss. And Wausau Wis.

If Downtown Oregon City Association is selected as a Great American Main Street Award winner, it will be the first ever community in Oregon and the first on the West Coast in the last eight years.

DOCA is hosting an 'Open House' event April 7, noon to 5 p.m., where downtown businesses will open their doors to meet and greet customers and share the best of their business. The event features all-day happy hours, live music, "open house specials", and unique tutorials.
On camera interviews will be available 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at DOCA Office, 814 Main Street, Oregon City, OR 97045. Media parking available at US Bank, 901 Main Street, Oregon City, OR 97045.