On August 15, Main Street Alabama held its eleventh annual Awards of Excellence Banquet at the Community House in Monroeville to celebrate the successes of local programs. The event was sponsored by Alabama Municipal Electric Authority and University of West Alabama Division of Economic Development and Workforce Development. Main Street Alabama’s President and State Coordinator, Mary Helmer Wirth, and Assistant State Coordinator, Trisha Black, recognized projects and individuals who made significant contributions to their communities.
The Awards of Excellence program highlighted the tremendous impacts of these honorees in their respective areas.
The Awards of Excellence recognized winners in the categories Capital Campaign, Public/Private Partnerships, Volunteer Development, Promotion, Marketing, Business Promotion, Business Development, Placemaking, Property Activation, Non-Historic Building Design, Planning and Public Spaces, and Historic Rehabilitation.
Local Main Street programs also selected a Main Street Hero that honored an individual, business or organization that made an outstanding contribution to their program and was recognized at the Toast to Heroes Reception sponsored by Regions Bank prior to the banquet.
LaFayette Main Street was awarded the highly competitive Business Promotion award in recognition of their business promotions campaign, LaFayette Shines, this year. DeAnna Hand, executive director of LaFayette Main Street and Ansley Emfinger, Board of Directors, accepted the award on behalf of LaFayette Main Street at the banquet.
Main Street programs also selected a Main Street Hero that honored an individual, business or organization that made an outstanding contribution to their program and was recognized at the Toast to Heroes Reception. LaFayette Street, Sanitation and Cemetery Superintendent George Green and his department were awarded the Hero Award on behalf of the city of LaFayette. We’re also very excited to be able to give recognition to George Green and his staff with the city of LaFayette states Executive Director DeAnna Hands.
“Last night’s event was a heartwarming celebration of the remarkable achievements of our local Main Street programs,” said Wirth. “The inspiring success stories shared at the event truly highlighted the essence of community spirit and collaboration. It’s a testament to the effectiveness of Main Street’s Four-Point Approach in fostering economic development and preserving historic areas.”
Main Street Alabama has 33 Designated Programs and 29Network Communities. Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Atmore, Birmingham’s Historic 4th Ave Business District, Birmingham’s Woodlawn District, Calera, Centreville, Columbiana, Decatur, Demopolis, Elba, Enterprise, Eufaula, Florence, Foley, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Heflin, Jasper, LaFayette, Leeds, Marion, Monroeville, Montevallo, Montgomery, Opelika, Oxford, Scottsboro, South Huntsville, Russellville, Talladega,and Wetumpka each have Designated Programs.
