The Department of Local Affairs’ (DOLA) Colorado Main Street Program has designated the Town of Akron as an official Main Street community. Akron joins 25 other cities and towns in the Colorado Main Street Program, which offers support for community-led downtown revitalization and helps communities thrive by providing a customizable framework to focus efforts, energy, and resources to create a more vibrant community.
The Town of Akron has deep roots that go back to 1882. It began as a small camp along the railroad and soon became a town thriving off the railroad, farming, and ranching. As the seat for Washington County, Akron has much to offer to both the residents and travelers. Main Avenue is a wide street at the center of it all, with historic buildings and traditional storefronts. Every building and every person has a story to tell, and the new Main Street program wants to be the conductors, welcoming everyone aboard.
Another established Main Street community has been so successful in utilizing the Main Street Approach that it is advancing into a higher tier of the statewide program. While Akron has joined as an Achieving community, the Town of Rangely is moving up from that tier to Excelling.
The Colorado Main Street Program provides all of the official Main Street cities and towns assistance in building community engagement and support to attain their long-term visions for the future of their downtowns.