More Nominations for Main Street
 

Jacksonville Main Street has been nominated for five Lt. Governor's Annual Awards in Excellence in Downtown Revitalization honoring its work on improving the historic central business district. This marks the fourth year straight that the organization, representing the efforts of countless community volunteers, has been named a finalist for multiple honors.

Each year, all 62 Illinois Main Street communities are allowed three nominations within each category of revitalization work, corresponding to the Four Point Approach by which Main Street programs are structured: organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. Once a particular project has won in a category, it is no longer eligible for that award unless major changes in the activity occur. Strict judging criteria in all categories ensures that all entries meet high standards of excellence to even be selected as a finalist, regardless how many nominations each category receives. If all Illinois Main Street communities participate, as many as 744 project submissions could compete this year.

The 2006 Award finalists include: Jacksonville Main Street's Wall Dog Extravaganza for Best Public Improvement in the Design Category; Carl's Cleaners for Best Long-Term Business Success Story in the Economic Restructuring Category; Dog Gone Summer Night and the Imagine Foundation's Hot Summer Art Festival for Best Existing Event Partnership and the Bridal Expo for Best Retail Event, both in the Promotion Category. In addition, Executive Director Judy Tighe was named as a finalist for the Executive Director of the Year Award for the second time.

Winners will be formally announced at the Lt. Governor's Awards in Excellence Banquet on November 15 in Waukegan, following the Annual Illinois Main Street Conference, which offers further training opportunities for Main Street programs statewide. This year, Jacksonville Main Street will also be a presenter at the Conference, talking about success in Retail Promotions and the Progressive Patio Party in a Promotions Session. Lori Large, the Progressive Patio Party project coordinator, will also be a presenter for the Conference, with attendance expected at well over 100.

Last year, Jacksonville Main Street received 4 of the top honors, tying for the most going to a single community in 2005. Over the years, the organization has been cited with two awards for the Annual Report, three for Upper Story Development, one each for the Membership Brochure, Newsletter, Business Expansion, Long-Term Business Success, Adaptive Reuse, Community Spirit, and Retail Event. In all, Jacksonville Main Street has been recognized with 27 nominations for excellence in downtown revitalization.

Jacksonville Main Street, designated in 1999, is a locally funded, volunteer-driven, preservation-based organization working with a comprehensive approach to economic development focused on our historic central business district. For more information, or to get involved, call Jacksonville Main Street at 217-245-6884.