KINGSTON — After being rejected by the Washington State Main Street Program, the Downtown Kingston Association has bounced back quickly and will continue to plan the best ways to revitalize the Little City by the Sea.

Following the determination made in early March, DKA members assessed their future, deciding that even though the state program had shunned them they could still use the state’s template, advice and information to improve Kingston’s downtown area.

“Maybe if our buildings really looked bad, we would get qualified,” DKA president Nancy Martin said as she met with the group Tuesday. “But that’s just not the case here.”

“At first glance, when you’re driving off the ferry, Kingston doesn’t look like it needs to be revitalized,” added Kitsap County Department of Community Development planner Philip Fletcher. “It’s a pretty prosperous community in many ways.”

State Main Street officials visited Feb. 16, meeting with Fletcher and DKA and touring the downtown corridor.

In the end state officials determined the DKA didn’t qualify for assistance because so much work had been done already, and other towns are in more dire need of the services and funds.

As far as that funding goes, DKA members who attended a national conference in Seattle March 25-28, agreed Tuesday that it wasn’t all it was touted to be after discovering that the Main Street process requires a full-time, paid administrator to work on projects.

“We may be lucky we’ve been turned down,” said DKA member Laurie Larson. Several town representatives in attendance at the March conference were frustrated with having to pay a full-time employee with money that could go toward their downtowns, she added. “This community has gone so far, it’s a compliment we were turned down.”

The next step for the DKA is pinpointing specific projects to embrace. Once this occurs, Fletcher will lend his expertise and assist the group in locating possible funding options.

“The single biggest advantage at the conference to me was sitting in the lobby networking,” Fletcher said. “I came away with a lot of businesses’ cards and promises to stay in touch, and I think those are a lot more valuable than anything else.”

Residents who are curious about the DKA, or have ideas or input they feel should be considered, can attend the group’s monthly meetings, held at 4 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Kingston American Marine Bank. For more information, contact Martin at (360) 297-6640.