Revitalize San Pedro Achieves Full Main Street America Accreditation
This fall, Revitalize San Pedro Partnership (RSPP) was officially designated as a fully accredited Main Street America program, joining a distinguished network of communities nationwide committed to revitalizing their historic and commercial districts through the proven Main Street Approach™.
After two years of planning, organizing, and partnership-building, this milestone marks a new chapter for the San Pedro corridor — one defined by measurable progress, stronger collaboration, and lasting impact.
From Local Vision to National Recognition
The announcement from New Mexico MainStreet and the New Mexico Economic Development Departmentrecognizes both RSPP and the Lordsburg Economic Advancement Project as the state’s newest accredited programs. Accreditation represents the highest level of recognition a Main Street program can achieve within the Main Street America network.
Accredited communities meet rigorous standards of performance across six key areas — from strong organizational capacity and sustainable funding to data-driven strategies and demonstrable economic impact.
For RSPP, accreditation validates years of grassroots organizing and recent achievements that have transformed the corridor from concept to coordinated action. It also affirms what neighbors and business owners already know: San Pedro is on the rise.
What Accreditation Means
Accreditation isn’t just a title — it’s a promise to the community. To earn it, a Main Street program must demonstrate:
Broad-based community commitment to revitalization.
Strong leadership and organizational capacity, including a representative board and full-time executive director.
Diverse and sustainable funding sources that ensure long-term stability.
Strategy-driven programming aligned with clear Transformation Strategies and the Four Points of the Main Street Approach: Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization.
Preservation-based economic development that strengthens the corridor’s character while spurring new investment.
Demonstrated impact and results, including reinvestment statistics, business growth, and community engagement outcomes.
RSPP met and exceeded each of these benchmarks — showing that our work isn’t just active, it’s effective.
Building Momentum on San Pedro
Accreditation builds on a period of visible transformation for the corridor.
Over the past year, RSPP has opened a new office and community hub, launched the Facade Squad volunteer storefront improvement program, and secured multiple grants to support wayfinding, streetscape enhancements, and youth engagement through the Outdoor Equity Fund.
The corridor has become a place where small businesses, residents, and artists come together to reimagine what a welcoming, walkable, and vibrant main street can be.
As Executive Director Adrian N. Carver put it, “Accreditation affirms that what’s happening on San Pedro isn’t luck — it’s leadership, partnership, and purpose. Our community built this together.”
A Shared Path Forward
Main Street America’s accreditation framework emphasizes continuous improvement, not just one-time achievement. Each year, accredited programs undergo a community evaluation process to ensure ongoing progress toward their local Transformation Strategies.
For RSPP, this means continuing to build on our three Economic Transformation Strategies:
Physical Improvements – Enhancing the corridor’s public spaces, walkability, and visual identity.
Business Activation & Development – Supporting existing businesses and attracting new ones that strengthen the district’s economy.
Placemaking – Creating memorable experiences that connect people to place and celebrate the culture of Albuquerque’s International District.
Together, these strategies are reshaping San Pedro into a corridor that reflects the pride and potential of its community.
Recognition and Gratitude
RSPP’s journey to accreditation would not have been possible without the dedication of countless partners, volunteers, and supporters — from the neighborhood associations that spent over a decade organizing, to the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico MainStreet, and the many businesses who continue to show up for the corridor.
Looking Ahead
As a newly accredited Main Street America program, RSPP is positioned to expand its reach and impact. Accreditation opens doors to new funding opportunities, stronger technical assistance, and deeper partnerships at the local, state, and national levels.
But the most meaningful part of this achievement remains local. Every mural painted, storefront improved, and business opened along San Pedro represents the community’s shared investment in its own future.
The road ahead is bright — and we’re just getting started.