DMI La Crosse wins Best Retail Event award in WEDC revitalization contest
MADISON, Wis. (WKBT) — Downtown Mainstreet Inc. in La Crosse won the Best Retail Event award in the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s downtown revitalization projects of 2020 contest.
DMI’s ‘s Shop Small Sundays was named winner during the WEDC’s 30th Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony Wednesday held virtually through dozens of socially distanced “watch parties” across the state.
“The projects our state’s Main Street programs develop help our small businesses innovate and thrive even a during a pandemic,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC.
“Successful Main Street programs bring the whole community together through partnerships with businesses, government and WEDC. From historic preservation to new business development, these projects keep Wisconsin’s main streets vital.”
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 35 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 projects have helped create more than 2,800 new businesses and more than 15,000 net new jobs.
Other winners included:
Best Interior Renovation Under $50,000 — Hannah and Austin McCourt at Badger Bros. Coffee in Platteville
Wisconsin Main Street Hall of Fame 2020 Inductee — Marilyn Hill of Darlington
Best Public Improvement Project — Honorable to the Electrical Box Art Project in Chippewa Falls; winner was Sharp Corner Park in Watertown
Best COVID Response — Definitely De Pere and City of De Pere
Staff Choice Award — Alexandria Binanti – Kenosha
Best Public-Private Partnership — Beloit College and City of Beloit for Powerhouse Riverwalk
Best New Building — Graham Sweet Shoppe in Tigerton
Best Creative Fundraising Effort — Ice Castle Snow Globes in Eagle River
Best Business Success Story — Barber Rich’s Barbershop in Omro
Best Storefront Display — House to Home Designs in Monroe
Diversity and Inclusion Award — Carmyn Hoen, Kayley McColley, Miah Medina, Christine Salm, Jaxon Seeger and Gwen Taylor in Wausau
Best New Business — Co-winners were Lucky Cow Coffee & Gelato in Darlington and Donut Sam’s in Menomonie
Best Volunteer Engagement — Rotary Square Beautification Project in Ripon.
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