Watrous is the latest local community to come forward and get involved with the Saskatchewan government's Main Street Program.

After two years of being involved as a affiliated member they have been bumped up to an accredited level.

Community Development Officer Brendan Manz is excited to get to work.

"There's basically a four point approach that they use," he explained Friday morning. "It's sort of community development, historic building revitalization and economic development is all part of that. We're excited to jump into the full program now and revitalize our Main Street in Watrous."

Manz explains some of the tools they've already incorporated through their engagement in the program.

"That allowed us to do some capacity building within our community, we did a downtown survey last year of our residents, we've done some education and training opportunities for businesses. Even Thursday night we had a succession planning workshop in our community, it's allowed us to do some good things and now we're excited to really get going."

Humboldt has been involved in the program for a couple years, Wadena has just been given affiliated membership as well.

Manz says they simply couldn't pass up this chance to have some help..

"We realized the huge opportunity that we have here with approximately 150,000 visitors a year between Watrous and Manitou Beach and we know that with a revitalized Main Street it gives us an opportunity to allow people to stay here longer and spend more money."

He points to their annual car show on Main Street plus a large homecoming planned for next year as ways to help local business grow through things learned or acquired through the program.

"Maybe our downtown can be a destination within a destination, that's our hope for it."

You can hear more from Manz below in his interview with Bolt FM's Tyler Bieber.