More than 1,200 accredited Main Street programs nationwide were given the opportunity to compete for the Main Streets in 3D Project.

The National Trust Main Street Center and representatives from Google and Igloo Studios, creators of Google Earth and Sketchup, chose the top-five Main Street programs with the most innovative and creative ideas for using the Google Sketchup and Google Earth 3D technology in their communities. These communities will receive a free, all-day, on-site training session and modeling from the Google and Igloo Studios experts.

“Downtown Milford Inc. is honored to be chosen as one of the five Main Streets in 3D communities and plans to use this training and 3D technology to show business owners facade enhancement options, improve our planning process for our streetscape projects, develop a historic 3D timeline of the downtown area and create interactive fly-through 3D videos of our downtown area to promote cultural and heritage tourism,” said Downtown Milford Inc. Executive Director Lorraine J. Dion. “By recruiting recent graduates and high school students to work on this project we hope to engage more youths in our historic downtown.”

Within the next few months, experts from Google and Igloo Studios will go to Milford to train volunteers and staff members on the use of Google Earth and Sketchup, and to use photography to enhance the 3D models. While the Google and Igloo Studios representatives are in Milford, they will also be modeling some of the most complicated historic buildings in downtown Milford.

The National Trust Main Street Center commended Downtown Milford Inc. for its strong community partnerships.

To volunteer for the 3D Modeling Project, call 302-839-1180.