From the City of Havre de Grace:
In 2005, Main Street Maryland (MSM) designated an outlined district and in 2008 The State of Maryland designated an Arts and Entertainment district in Havre de Grace, both supported by a City resolution and managed by a nonprofit. Activities over the last 12 months and a recent audit generated questions on the nonprofits management of the program, as a result the City terminated its relationship with the nonprofit and assumed responsibility of the Main Street program.
The aim of this Administration is to champion the mission and adhere to the goals developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Main Street 5 Point approach. The City will ensure the program is administered with best practices, keeping on track with the mission statement.
Economic recruitment and retention has been a top priority for this Administration and Council. The State designation of the outlined Main Street and Arts and Entertainment District continues and remains a priority focus.
All programs will continue, which includes but is not limited to; First Fridays, facade improvements and interior fit out, managed and executed from the Havre de Grace Office of Economic Development. The City has managed First Fridays and the Farmers Market since May of 2015 and has seen positive growth at both venues.
Havre de Grace has long been known as a place to visit and live, we are now positioned to effectively enhance and realize our full economic potential.
The city went on a witch hunt, but failed to start at the beginning of the problems. Now the former leaders of Main Street are right there again now under a different name. Community Projects of Havre de Grace is being run by the same members of Main Street that caused the original problems with the group, but lucked out in the audit.