Kingsville’s new downtown manager, Bob Trescott, sees the potential for a complete revitalization of the historic commercial district, and he has nothing but praises for the community’s diversity of resources such as the Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas A&M Univesity-Kingsville, and the surrounding area fishing, hunting, and birding.

These resources impact the community and are critical to the revitalization of downtown Kingsville, he said.

“Downtown can be the heart of the community,” Trescott said.

One of his major goals will be to get Kingsville back in the Main Street Program that assists with the revitalization of city downtowns.

Kingsville was one of the first Texas communities to participate in this program in the 1980s.

He said the strategy for success includes detailed planning, plenty of events, and the city’s new champion for downtown Kingsville said he also wants to focus for downtown.

Trescott will be working with the City of Kingsville Planning Department.

“We are looking forward to have someone like Bob on board and put full time energy into the downtown area, Ken Clark, Director of Development Services, who will be working closely with him,” Clark said. “He has a lot of experience in downtown main street programs — a real plus for tKingsvil1e,” Clark said.

Trescott plans to work with ongoing beautification efforts, focusing on the downtown area.

He comes to Kingsville with plenty of energy, enthusiasm and experience and encourages people to participate in downtown plans.

He handled the Main Street Program in Florida for almost nine years, his last place of residence.

He believes that Kingsville will benefit from the Main Street Program, because it is a brand-identity marketing tool.

“State programs provide services, training, networking and technical assistance,” said Trescott who was hired two weeks ago.

“The fact we are on an international thoroughfare also represent business,” he said.

Trescott has over 25 years experience in economic development, tourism and Main Street Programs. Trescott holds certification with the American Institute of Certified Planners and is a member of the International Development Council. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and history from Excelsior College in Albany, N. Y. He started his business in commercial real estate in Maryland. He also served in the Coast Guard for 14 years.

Trescott believes there are many opportunities for people to participate in downtown revitalization projects such as coordinating events, building design, and economic restructure.

The annual application process for Main Street cities include a letter of intent filled in mid-May of each year and an application deadline in July. The process for the 2010 Texas Main Street cities has also been closed. The next round of applications will be accepted July 30, 2010 for the program beginning Jan. 1, 2011.

The Texas Main Street Program, part of the Texas Historical Commission’s Community Heritage Development Division, helps Texas cities revitalize their historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts by utilizing preservation and economic development strategies, according to information from their website. Overtime, the Texas Main Street communities have received more than $2 billion in economic reinvestment and creation of almost 25,000 local jobs. Within the last two years almost 6,400 businesses have expanded or created in their Main Street Districts. There are 86 official Texas Main Street programs representing more than 2.6 million in population.

The Texas Main Street Program that began in 1981 is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1981, following a pilot project of the national center studied ways to address the decline of America’s downtown; the Texas Main Street Program became one of the first six state coordination programs in the nation.

Nationwide local programs operate under the National Main Street Center’s four-point approach of organization, promotions, design and economic restructuring.

There are many reasons why downtown is a crucial tool for enhancing the economic and social health of a community. Downtowns are the most visible indicator of community pride and economic health; the historic downtown reflects the foundation of community heritage.

“Each person can become involved in any facet of downtown plans,” Trescott said.

When she was president as Staff Council she gave a speech during the inauguration of TAMUK president Gen. Marc Cisneros. Currently, she is on the committee of the Douglass Community Center project and also works with upgrading the parsonage at St. Paul AME.

“I enjoy all the people in Kingsville and Kingsville itself,” she said.