CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Nikki Martin, Main Street West Virginia and ON TRAC coordinator, has earned the Main Street America Revitalization Professional credential.

Ms. Martin holds the only national Revitalization Professional credential in West Virginia, one of approximately three dozen in the United States. The credential is the highest offered through Main Street America Institute (MSAI), a program of the National Main Street Center. MSAI partners with communities to revitalize historic commercial districts and their surrounding communities.

The fields of downtown revitalization and commercial district management continue to grow and demand increasingly advanced skills and expertise. The MSAI professional development program provides continuing learning opportunities and professional certifications in these fields.

Earning the credential requires completing more than 40 courses for Leadership Development and Community Transformation certificates, two intensive multiday in-person sessions, and a final exam.

Martin has a B.S. degree in Communications with an emphasis in Market Research from West Virginia State University. She has held executive positions with organizations in private and public sectors, arts and nonprofits. In 2010, Martin joined Main Street West Virginia, which operates under the West Virginia Development Office.

Main Street West Virginia marked its 30th anniversary in 2018. The program created ON TRAC (Organization, Training, Revitalization and Capacity) in 2008. ON TRAC communities receive help with neighborhood revitalization training, strength assessments, action-plans, grant information and mentoring, a program that helps communities prepare for Main Street membership.

The state’s accredited Main Street communities are Charles Town, Charleston East End, Charleston West Side, Elkins, Fairmont, Kingwood, Mannington, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Philippi, Point Pleasant, Ripley and Ronceverte.

The West Virginia ON TRAC cities are Belington, Beverly, Huntington, Kenova, Marlinton, Parkersburg, Parsons, Romney, Rowlesburg, Shinnston and Sutton.