Contact: Tom Thieding, 608-267-9661 tom.thieding@wedc.org
BELOIT, April 20, 2012 – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) recognized the best downtown revitalization projects of 2011 at the 22nd Annual Wisconsin Main Street Awards at the Beloit College campus.
Paul Jadin, CEO/Secretary of the 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.
Wisconsin Main Street inducted three more members into its Hall of Fame. They include Dave LaFontaine of Marshfield, Cindy Tang of Platteville and Merle Colburn of Algoma. The Hall of Fame indentifies individuals for their contributions to their local Main Street Programs over a long period of time.
Wisconsin Main Street is a community development program through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) targeting Wisconsin’s historic commercial districts. WEDC provides technical support and training to Wisconsin communities to revitalize their traditional business districts based on historic preservation developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Wisconsin’s has 38 Main Street Communities. Since the Main Street Program was started in 1988, 4,262 businesses have been created, 1,476 businesses expanded, and 18,764 full-time jobs created.
2011 Main Street Award Winners and Honorable Mentions
Best Volunteer Program/Project
The Perfect Mixer – Rice Lake Main Street Association
Best Public/Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization
Cool City Classic Car Show/HOG Rally Weekend – Two Rivers Main Street and City of Two Rivers
Best Downtown Special Event
Events for Exhibitour: An Art & Wine Walk – Wausau Area Events
Honorable Mention: Ethnic Festival – Two Rivers
Best Downtown Retail Event
Witches Night Out – Susie Myers and Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization, Inc. Promotions Committee
Best Creative Fundraising Effort
Murder Mystery Party at the Historic Villa Louis – Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization, Inc. Organization Committee
Best Downtown Image Campaign/Event/Item
Website: visitportwashington.com – Kathy Tank, Sara Grover and Matt Nelson, Port Washington
Honorable Mentions: Be in It! – Downtown Beloit Film and Marketing Campaign, Downtown Beloit Association; Annual Report – Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership
Best New Downtown Business
Paddle and Trail – Beloit
Honorable Mention: The Docking Station – On Broadway, Green Bay
Best Business Development Program/Project
Opportunity Knocks – Tomahawk Main Street Economic Restructuring Committee
Honorable Mention: Neighborhood Stabilization Program – Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization, Inc.
Best Business Marketing Campaign in a Downtown District
Beerntsen’s Candies – On Broadway, Green Bay
Honorable Mentions: MaCandis Boutique – Platteville; Driftless Angler – Mat & Geri Wagner, Viroqua
Best Business Citizen Award
Whitewaterbanner.com – Jim Stewart, Whitewater
Best New Building
Dermatology Associates of Wisconsin, S.C. – Manitowoc
Mersberger Financial Group, Inc. – Sheboygan Falls
Best Sustainability Award
LED Streetlight Replacement – City of Columbus, Columbus Water & Light, Greater Columbus Energy Commission
Leicht Park Solar Panels – On Broadway, Green Bay
Best Façade Rehabilitation Under $7,500
Main Street Market – Rice Lake
Best Façade Rehabilitation over $7,500
204-208 Watson Street – Mary Flanagan and Scott Kearney, Ripon
Honorable Mentions: Citizens First Bank – Viroqua; Main Street Shops – Chris Hale, Whitewater;
Natural Market, Inc. – Kristina Schramm, Manitowoc
Best Historic Restoration Project
Water Works Building – Bob and Merianne Zimmerman, Pewaukee
Honorable Mention: Historic Washington House Entrance Restoration – Two Rivers Historical Society
Best Adaptive Reuse
Our Market – Columbus
Honorable Mention: Lewis Station Winery – Russ and Linda Roedl, Lake Mills
Best Downtown Public Improvement Project– Beautification
Historic Eagle River Mural – Eagle River Revitalization Program and Mark DePuydt, Artist
Best Downtown Public Improvement Project– Built Environment
State Street Reconstruction and Gantry – City of Beloit and Downtown Beloit Assn.
Best Interior Renovation Project
Baltica Tea Room and Gift Shop – Urzula Cholewinska and Dan Micha, Port Washington
Honorable Mention: Jewelers Palette – Michael and Denise Pozayt, Marshfield
Best Upper Floor Development
28 N. Main Street Loft – Sam Meyer, Fond du Lac
2011 Volunteer of the Year
Algoma – Lia Montgomery
Beloit – Peter Gabriele
Columbus – Kristi Agnew
Darlington – Richard Anderson
Eagle River – Sue Ingham
Fond du Lac – Liv Moyer
Green Bay – Tammy Asplund
Lake Mills – Carol Burrows
Lincoln Village – Claude Krawczyk
Manitowoc – Chelle Blaszczyk, Captain
Marshfield – Beverly Shookman
Pewaukee – Shannon Loper
Platteville – Dave Zmina
Port Washington – Jill Kirst
Prairie du Chien – Terry Meyer
Rhinelander – Joan Belongia
Rice Lake – Katelyn Pardun
Sharon – Elva Gallagher
Sheboygan Falls – Ruth Paul
Tomahawk – Clarann Stocker
Two Rivers – AJ Ashenbrenner
Viroqua – Jen Wieman
Watertown – Stan and Sue Schramm
West Allis – Mary Morris
Whitewater – Ron Binning
2012 Hall of Fame Inductees
Dave LaFontaine – Marshfield
Cindy Tang – Platteville
Merle Colburn – Algoma
2011 Board Member of the Year
Algoma – Merle Colburn
Beloit – Deanna Ohman
Columbus – Kathy Garwick
Darlington – Kathy Brecklin
Eagle River – Bryan Pierce
Fond du Lac – Sam Meyer
Green Bay – Cora Haltaufderheid
Lake Mills – Russ Roedl
Manitowoc – Patricia Roth
Marshfield – Seth Koenig
Pewaukee – Michelle Easton
Platteville – Gary Olson
Port Washington – Marcia Endicott
Prairie du Chien – Joe Ruskey
Rhinelander – Brian Diel
Rice Lake – Jean Koranda
Sharon – Linda Carter
Sheboygan Falls – Dorothy Schueffner
Tomahawk – Pam Theiler Wise
Two Rivers – Theresa Kronforst
Viroqua – Julie Steiner
Watertown – John David
West Allis – Thomas Miller
Whitewater – Geoff Hale, Honorary Chairperson
Main Street Executive Director Years of Service
Two Years: Dawn Follendorf, Wausau; Christopher Naumann, On Broadway, Green Bay
Five Years: Todd Trimberger, Sturgeon Bay
Eleven Years: Michael Glime, Algoma
Thirteen Years: Virginia Kauffman, Tigerton
Sixteen Years: Kathy Wellsandt, Rice Lake
Twenty Years: Craig Tebon, Ripon
