Local News
Wisconsin Main Street Awards
DE PERE, WI. April 17, 2015 – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Friday recognized the best downtown revitalization projects of 2013-2014 at the 24th Annual Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony at St. Norbert College.
Tricia Braun, deputy secretary and COO of WEDC, was on hand to recognize the efforts by Main Street volunteers and staff for the historic preservation and downtown economic development efforts of communities in Wisconsin.
“The Wisconsin Main Street Program is a true success story that has revitalized downtown districts throughout the state and has provided a significant economic boost to the local communities,” Braun said. “This is a great way to recognize the amazing work being done by the volunteers and staffers who play a key role in that success.”
Wisconsin Main Street is a community development program administered by WEDC that targets Wisconsin’s historic commercial districts. WEDC provides technical support and training to Wisconsin communities to revitalize their business districts based on historic preservation developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Wisconsin’s has 36 Main Street Communities. Since 1988, Main Street communities saw more than 3,000 businesses open their doors and create 7,100 jobs, with nearly $1 billion in private investment taking place in those downtown districts.
In 2013-14, 90 new businesses opened in the Wisconsin Main Street communities, creating more than 450 jobs and generating $85 million in private investment.
The awards presented Friday night were:
Best Volunteer Engagement
Winner: Absolu-Tea, Absolutely Waterford
Best Digital Media Campaign
Winner: Definitely De Pere and Burnham Richards Advertising
Best Creative Fundraising Effort
Winner: New Years Eve Masquerade On Broadway, On Broadway, Inc. Promotions Committee (Green Bay)
Best Public/Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization
Winner: “Businesses Go Dementia-Friendly”, Chippewa Falls Main Street and Dementia Coalition of Chippewa County
Best Downtown Special Event
Winner: Winter Wine Walk On Broadway, On Broadway, Inc., Green Bay
Honorable Mention: Applefest 2014, Tigerton Main Street
Best Façade Rehabilitation Project Under $7,500
Winner: The Nail Studio/111 S. Main St. and Oaks Development Group, Fond du Lac
Best Public Improvement: Public Art
Co-Winner: 2013 “Art in the Downtown” project, Positively Pewaukee
Co-Winner: “Come Knock on Our Doors” Project, Visit Beloit
Best New Business
Winner: Waseda Farms Market, De Pere
Best Retail Event
Winner: Ladies Nite Out, Sheboygan Falls Chamber-Main Street
Best Cooperative Business Marketing Campaign
Winner: “The Wedding Collection,” Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership
Best Upper Floor Rehabilitation Project
Co-Winner: Platten Place Apartments, Green Bay
Co-Winner: Mary Flanagan & Scott Kearney, 204-208 Watson, Ripon
Best Business Development Program
Winner: Holiday 2014 Pop-Up Series, Viroqua Chamber Main Street Board of Directors
Best Façade Rehabilitation Project Over $7,500
Winner: Modern Apothecary, Dr. Erin Merritt and Clovis Properties LLC, Kenosha
Best Image item/Campaign/Event
Winner: “Omro: A Great Place” Campaign, Omro
Best Business Retention Program
Winner: Focus on Energy Program, Platteville
Best Interior Renovation Project
Co-Winner: Starry Realty, De Pere
Co-Winner: Sanft Accounting & Tax LLC, Lake Mills
Best Public Improvement Project: Built Environment
Winner: Monroe Community Garden, Monroe
Best Storefront Display
Winner: Circle The Date, Marshfield
Honorable Mention: 2nd Hand Rose, Algoma
Best Historic Rehabilitation
Winner: CE Staples Building, Osceola Main Street Group LLC, Osceola
Best New Building
Winner: Gehl-Mulva Science Center, St. Norbert College, Performa and Miron Construction, De Pere
Best Adaptive Reuse Project
Winner: Ironworks Redevelopment: Hendricks Commercial Properties, Beloit
Connect Communities Award
Best Downtown Development Success Story-Under 5,500 Population
Winner: Rinehart Tobacco City Lofts, Edgerton
Connect Communities Award
Best Downtown Development Success Story-Over 5,500 Population
Co-Winner: Business Expansion and Relocation Guide, Village of Menomonee Falls
Co-Winner: Marvin W. Roth Community Pavilion, City of Janesville
Milestone Main Street Anniversaries
10 Years in 2014
· Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership
15 Years in 2014
· Platteville Main Street
· Eagle River Revitalization Project
20 Years in 2014
· Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center
25 Years in 2014
· Chippewa Falls Main Street
· Viroqua Chamber Main Street
15 Years in 2015
· Community Improvement of Algoma
· Watertown Main Street
20 Years in 2015
· On Broadway, Inc., Green Bay
25 years in 2015
· Main Street Marshfield
· Definitely De Pere
Past Winners of “Best New Business” Celebrating 10 Years
Jason Meinholz & Marzena Noch-Meinholz
Soda Pops
Eagle River
Darin Shireman
Badger Brothers Coffee
Platteville
Executive Director Years of Service Awards
Five Years:
Christopher Naumann, Green Bay/Kenosha
12 Years:
Elaine Kroening, Pewaukee
14 Years:
Michael Glime, Algoma
16 Years:
Virginia Kauffman, Tigerton
19 Years:
Kathy Wellsandt, Rice Lake
23 Years:
Craig Tebon, Ripon
2014 Volunteers of the Year
Sue Hepp, Algoma
Tiffany Warren, Beloit
Sherry Hoffman, Darlington
Amy Sorenson, De Pere
Gary Fawcett, Eagle River
Tracy Mathweg, Fond du Lac
Tim Dexter, On Broadway, Inc. (Green Bay)
Zohrab Khaligian, Kenosha
Mery Ellen Vinz, Lake Mills
Kate Clanton, Marshfield
John & Donna Glynn, Monroe
Sheila Jilot, Pewaukee
Steve Swift, Platteville
Sam Kohlhagen, Sheboygan Falls
Julie Mauritz, Tigerton
Howard Bryant, Waterford
Autumn Carew, Watertown
Jeremy Eineichner, West Allis
Kristine Zaballos, Whitewater
2014 Honorary Board Members
Ron Welch, Algoma
Malinda Obershaw, Beloit
Scott Hemauer, De Pere
Cindy Meinholz, Eagle River
Philip Shepherd, Fond du Lac
Peter Nugent, On Broadway Inc. (Green Bay)
Deanna Goodwin, Kenosha
Sarah Fitzgibbon, Lake Mills
Andy Hill, Monroe
Dr. Tad Diciaula, Pewaukee
Gary Olson, Platteville
Michael Kennedy, Sheboygan Falls
Clarence Natzke, Tigerton
Gil Amborn, Waterford
David Beduze, Watertown
Veronica Telfer, Whitewater
Wisconsin Main Street Hall of Fame Inductees
Lois TeStrake, Marshfield
Russ Roedl, Lake Mills
Joe Schinkten, De Pere