Representatives of the Elgin Main Street Board presented their annual report to the Elgin City Council, highlighting business growth, volunteer contributions and event successes for 2024.

Krista Marks, Main Street Board president, told the council the board is a preservation-based economic development program and that the 2024 reaccreditation cycle placed their program among a smaller subset of Texas cities that successfully renewed accreditation. The board reported a net of seven new downtown businesses in 2024 and $2,880,000 in combined public and private investment during the year. Recorded volunteer hours for 2024 totaled more than 725.5 hours; the board estimated a monetary equivalent of about $24,000 for recorded volunteer time, noting the actual value is higher when unrecorded hours are included.

Marks said the Hawkeye Festival was a signature event in 2024, raising $61,000 in sponsorships (a program record) and exceeding vendor goals. The festival alone accounted for more than 500 of the volunteer hours recorded. The Main Street Board also listed more than 30 other recurring events and partnerships that support downtown activity, including Sip, Shop & Stroll (monthly), Music in the Park, the Elgin Music Festival, Juneteenth events and holiday programming.

Marks credited volunteers, staff (including Christina, the board introducer), local partners such as the Elgin Independent School District, downtown Elgin, the Parks and Rec department, the public library and the Elgin Arts Association for the downtown activity and economic impact. The board said it will continue programing and partnership work and will bring event planning information to the city as needed.