Pictured from left are Bridget Ruffin, Melissa Suddendorf and Jamie Currie.
Kristina Tadeo and Mandi Huff.
Pictured from left are Bridget Ruffin, Melissa Suddendorf and Jamie Currie.
Kristina Tadeo and Mandi Huff.
GREEN BAY — The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation celebrated the best downtown revitalization projects of 2023 at the 33rd Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony held at Gather on Broadway in Green Bay.
Three of the winners were based in Port Washington:
– Best Business Visual Merchandising Display (Storefront): Pear & Simple – Port Washington
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– Best Special Event: Port Festival of the Arts – Port Washington
– 2022 Community Champions: Judy Cotter – Port Washington “As Main Street goes, so goes Wisconsin’s economy, its wellbeing, our way of life in the Badger State,” said Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO. “And these awards prove once again Wisconsin communities are thriving. Congratulations to the winners. We salute and celebrate you, our partners in creating an economy and improving the quality of life for the betterment and benefit of all.”
On behalf of Secretary Hughes, Sam Rikkers, WEDC Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, recognized the winners at the awards ceremony.
“With many of these Main Street projects, we are preserving history and making history, leading by example in maintaining what sets Wisconsin apart,” Rikkers said. “While these projects in the heart of your communities are vital to local commerce and cultural activities today, they are part of our Badger State legacy we must preserve for future generations to enjoy.”
Other WEDC leaders also joined in the celebration of successful projects and initiatives executed by Main Street and Connect Communities programs around the state. Recognized projects included business and community development initiatives, building renovations, community celebrations and revitalization success stories from across Wisconsin.
“Showcasing the variety of success stories from communities large and small is always inspirational,” said Mike Ward, WEDC vice president of business and community development. “The Main Street Awards ceremony celebrates the hard work, vision and dedication of those who are working tirelessly behind the scenes each day to preserve and promote their downtowns.”
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 the 34 Main Street communities to help them revitalize their business districts based on guidelines developed by the National Main Street Center.
Since the program’s inception in 1987, Wisconsin Main Street community efforts have resulted in the creation of more than 3,300 new businesses and nearly 17,000 net new jobs, and over $2.6 billion in public and private investment has occurred in these districts.
During fiscal year 2023 alone, Wisconsin Main Street communities added 112 new businesses and 287 net new jobs. None of this activity would be possible without the nearly 30,000 volunteer hours that were dedicated to the Main Street effort by passionate individuals from each community.
The 2023 competitive award winners include:
Best Façade Rehab Under $25,000 20 E. Main Street — Driftless Fitness and Yoga — Platteville
Best New Business Sugar ‘N Spice Cheesecake & Coffee — Wausau
Best Retail Event First Friday — Racine
Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging (Organization) Diversity Through Design — Wausau
Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging (Individual) Royal Palmer — Platteville
Best Business Visual Merchandising Display (Interior) Coming Home — Osceola
Best Business Visual Merchandising Display (Storefront) Pear & Simple — Port Washington
Best Upper Floor Development The Fharmacy Public House — Lake Mills
Best Placemaking Improvement Project Honorable Mention — First National Bank Clock — Tigerton Vital Essentials Dog Park On Broadway, Inc. — Green Bay
Connect Communities Award-Under 5,000 Population RevIV Aesthetics & Wellness, LLC, Owner: Marcy Davies, APNP, FNP-BC — Three Lakes Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics & City of Elroy
Connect Communities Award-Over 5,000 Population Bucyrus Commons — City of South Milwaukee
Best Promotional Marketing Campaign Honorable Mention — North for the 4th Sale — Tomahawk Love Racine — Racine
Best Public-Private Partnership in Revitalization Central Park 365 — Two Rivers
Best Business Development or Retention Program Welcome to Downtown Business Toolkit & Grant Program — Fond du Lac
Best Volunteer Recruitment-Recognition-Activity Dana Preibusch — Platteville
Best Business Success Story Pete’s Garage — On Broadway, Inc. – Green Bay
Best Cooperative Business Marketing Legendary Lake Mills “Love, Lake Mills Newsletter” — Lake Mills
Best Interior Renovation Project Under $50,000 Object Homewares — Wausau
Best Special Event Honorable Mention — New Year’s Eve Cheese Drop — Monroe Port Festival of the Arts — Port Washington
Best Digital Marketing Campaign Pwr Forward Media, Twenty Fifth Hour & King Drive BID
Best Façade Rehab Over $25,000 Saks Holdings — De Pere
Best Interior Project Over $50,000 Cool City Brewing Company — Two Rivers
Best Historic Restoration Project Honorable Mention — Bradley Mural — Tomahawk Wausau Area Chamber of Commerce — Wausau
Best Adaptive Reuse Project Hotel Verdant — Racine
2023 Wisconsin Main Street Hall of Fame Inductees Tracy Hamilton — Monroe Eileen Nickels — Platteville Paul Jadin — Green Bay
Individuals recognized for exemplary service included: Executive Director Years of Service Awards Shauna El-Amin — Beloit (12 years) Teri Ouimette — Chippewa Falls (13 years) Dianne Eineichner — West Allis (16 years) Amy Hansen — Fond du Lac (17 years) Craig Tebon — Ripon (32 years)
2022 Community Champions Tim Taylor — Beloit Jim Holperin — Eagle River Mike Leb — Fond du Lac Kurt Carpenter — Green Bay Dennis Keffer — Marshfield Brittany Hurd — Monroe Brandon Koehler — Osceola Deanna Hinderman — Platteville Judy Cotter — Port Washington Cynthia (Cindy) Mueller — Tigerton Joan Laabs — Tomahawk Justin Miller — Viroqua
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