OPELIKA, Ala. - Main Street Alabama celebrated local program successes at the ninth annual Awards of Excellence August 18, at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort Hotel & Spa at Grand National in Opelika.
During the Awards of Excellence program, Main Street Alabama’s President and State Coordinator, Mary Helmer Wirth, and Assistant State Coordinator, Trisha Black, honored projects and individuals that made tremendous impacts in their respective communities. Alabama Municipal Electric Authority sponsored the event.
“Monroeville Main Street is fortunate to have wonderful projects and people to nominate for the Main Street Alabama Awards of Excellence,” stated Monroeville Main Street Executive Director, Anne Marie Bryan. “It is gratifying to see our downtown in the spotlight for high quality, innovative projects and we love seeing locals recognized for their continuous efforts to make downtown Monroeville a better for everyone.”
Awards received by people and projects in Monroeville:
Historic Rehabilitation – Faulk Building – JWJ Investment Properties
Business Development – B.U.O.Y. - Business Understand and Ownership for Youth
Planning & Public Spaces - smART moves in Monroe County Mural Trail
Main Street Hero – Jodi Chambers
“Last night we celebrated the accomplishments of local Main Street programs," Wirth said. "These programs represent small rural cities as well as larger, more urban communities. The diversity of these communities makes each one unique, each are working within their own capacity to improve, reinvigorate, and revitalize their downtown or neighborhood commercial districts. We were inspired by local success stories and by the businesses, organizations and individuals who are dedicated to making their communities the best they can be.”
The Awards of Excellence Banquet is a highlight of LAB, a three-day conference that bolsters the efforts of communities participating in the nationally acclaimed Main Street program or those communities interested in district revitalization. The ninth annual event drew over 150 community leaders from Alabama.
Main Street Alabama has 32 Designated Programs and over 43 Network Communities. Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Atmore, Birmingham’s Historic 4th Ave Business District, Birmingham's Woodlawn District, Calera, Columbiana, Decatur, Demopolis, Dothan, Elba, Enterprise, Eufaula, Florence, Foley, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Headland, Heflin, Jasper, LaFayette, Leeds, Marion, Monroeville, Montevallo, Opelika, Oxford, Scottsboro, South Huntsville, Talladega, and Wetumpka each have Designated Programs and new communities are added annually. Application workshops are held in January for communities interested in becoming a Designated Program. Until then, communities interested in district revitalization can participate in Main Street Alabama's Network.
Main Street Alabama focuses on bringing jobs, dollars and people back to Alabama’s historic communities. Economic development is at the heart of our efforts to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
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