Jacksonville Collects Awards!
 

Jacksonville Main Street accepted four Lt. Governor's Awards in Excellence in Downtown Revitalization at the Illinois Main Street Conference held on November 15 in Danville.

 

 

 

Tom Grojean, JMS Economic Restructuring Committee Chair, was on hand to collect the award for Best Building Stewardship on behalf of the Jacksonville Public Library.

 

 

Beth Racey accepted the award for Best Business Improvement on behalf of her father, Joe Racey, for Production Press.

 

 

Steve Varble was presented the Community Spirit Award for his involvement in the Wall Dog Extravaganza, Mural Tours, Looking for Lincoln Committee, the Heritage Cultural Museum, and numerous Jacksonville Main Street and community projects.

 

 

Jacksonville Main Street won an award for Heritage Tourism for the development of the Wall Dog Mural Tours and was named a Premier Main Street Community for the third year in a row.

Jacksonville Main Street volunteers with five years of consecutive service were also cited: Becky Baumgart, Mike Goldasich, Dick Sweeney, Alban Haxhinasto, and Kristen Jenkins.

Projects in the Jacksonville Main Street District were finalists in a total of eight categories, including the winning submissions. Other finalists were Jacksonville Art Glass for Best New Business, The Three Legged Dog for Best Signage and Best Interior Renovation, and the Downtown Farmers Market for Best Ongoing Event.

Since 1999, Jacksonville Main Street has been a finalist for 33 Illinois Main Street Awards, and has won 19 of those nominations.

The 2007 Illinois Main Street Conference featured several educational sessions attended by Judy Tighe, and volunteers Tom Grojean, and Clare Lynd Porter.