Local Wisconsin Main Street organizations recognized at annual awards ceremony WEDC salutes volunteers, staff at event in Wisconsin Rapids

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1 For immediate release Contact: Mark Maley, Local Wisconsin Main Street organizations recognized at annual awards ceremony WEDC salutes volunteers, staff at event in Wisconsin Rapids Madison, WI. April 10, 2017 The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) recognized the best downtown revitalization projects of 2016 at the 26th Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony held Friday at Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids. Mark R. Hogan, secretary and CEO of WEDC, and other WEDC leaders were 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. A vibrant downtown is critical to a community s overall economic development as well as the quality of life of its residents, Hogan said. Main Street staff and volunteers throughout the state have spent countless hours developing innovative ways to invigorate their respective downtowns and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts. 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 Trust for Historic Preservation. Since the program s inception in 1987, Wisconsin Main Street community projects have resulted in the creation of more than 2,600 new businesses and more than 13,000 net new jobs. In addition, more than $1.6 billion in public and private investment has occurred in Wisconsin Main Street communities. In fiscal year 2016, the program resulted in the creation of an estimated 744 jobs and 138 new businesses. The program also generated $175 million in public and private investment, renovated or reconstructed nearly 300 buildings and held nearly 600 events with a total attendance of 1.6 million. Also on hand at Friday s event were members of WEDC s Connect Communities Program, a companion program to Wisconsin Main Street created in 2013 to provide access to resources and training to help communities pursue revitalization and redevelopment efforts. In fiscal year 2016, the 48 participating communities added 60 net new businesses, more than 300 net new jobs and more than $45 million in public and private investment.

2 The awards presented Friday night were: Best Volunteer Engagement Winner: Whitewater City Market, Whitewater Best Upper Floor Rehabilitation Project Winner: Clark Dietz Inc., Kenosha Best Storefront Display Winner: Monet Floral, La Crosse Best Special Event Co-Winner: Campfire Nights Ladysmith Main Street, Ladysmith Co-Winner: Artspire, La Crosse Best Retail Event Winner: 2016 Shop Small Raffle, Fond du Lac Best Public/Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization Winner: Umbrella Art Over Third Street, Wausau Best Historic Restoration Winner: Connie Weigert, K.L.C. Properties; The Artisan Preservation Company; Short-Elliott- Hendrickson, La Crosse Best Public Improvement Winner: Second Avenue Reconstruction Project, Wausau Honorable Mention: Free Downtown WiFi, Platteville Best New Business Winner: The Homesteader s Pantry, Marshfield Honorable Mention: Café on Main, Tomahawk Best Façade Rehabilitation under $10,000 Winner: Simple Living & Sodie s Cigar Shop, Osceola Best Façade Rehabilitation over $10,000 Winner: Rogers & Rogers, LLC (123 Watson), Ripon 2

3 Best Business Development/Retention Program Winner: 2016 Downtown Morning Marketing Meetups, Fond du Lac Best Cooperative Business Marketing Campaign Winner: The Twelve Days of Pewaukee, Pewaukee Connect Communities Award: Best Revitalization Initiative Community under 5,500 Winner: City of Cuba City, Cuba City Connect Communities Award: Best Revitalization Initiative Community over 5,500 Co-Winner: Reedsburg ArtsLink, Reedsburg Co-Winner: Village of Little Chute, Little Chute Best New Building Winner: Renew Port Holdings/Harbour Lights, Port Washington Best Creative Fundraising Effort Honorable Mention: Snowflake and Banner Project, Tigerton Winner: Watertown Santa House, Watertown Best Interior Renovation under $50,000 Honorable Mention: Broadway Theater, De Pere Winner: Heather Haller-White Stag, Rice Lake Best Interior Renovation over $50,000 Co-Winner: RiverGroup Financial Advisors, Osceola Co-Winner: The Spa Boutique at Barbershop Rock, Platteville Best Image Item/Campaign/Event Honorable Mention: Downtown Whitewater, Inc.-Design Committee Butts to Benches Campaign, Whitewater Winner: 2016 Downtown Fond du Lac Farmers Market Poster Series, Fond du Lac Best Adaptive Reuse Project Winner: Chippewa River Distillery/Brewster Bros. Brewing Co., Chippewa Falls 3

4 Executive Director Years of Service Awards Five Years: Shauna El-Amin, Beloit Shirl Breunig, Sheboygan Falls 10 Years: Amy Hansen, Fond du Lac 14 Years: Elaine Kroening, Pewaukee 21 Years: Kathy Wellsandt, Rice Lake 25 Years: Craig Tebon, Ripon 2016 Wisconsin Main Street Volunteers of the Year Tim Taylor, Beloit Sue Cashman, Darlington Rose Smits, De Pere Katie Sperbeck, Fond du Lac Erik Bedore, Kenosha Kelly Schotzko, Ladysmith Kristin Cramer, Lake Mills Kelsey Williams, La Crosse Danielle Krohn, Marshfield Brad Grebner, Monroe Shirley Johnson, Osceola Tammy LaBorde, Pewaukee Gary Munson, Platteville David Wellsandt, Rice Lake Kim Bahr, Ripon Stefanie Trakel, Sheboygan Falls Joshua Suehring, Tigerton Roger Glocke, Tomahawk Madison and Samantha Kronforst, Two Rivers Robert Gariepy, Waterford Wanda Fredrick, Watertown Sarah Lentz, Wausau Sarah Linn, Whitewater 4

5 2016 Honorary Board Members Elaine Ribarich, Beloit Judy Boll, Darlington MaryAlexis Pfutzenreuter, De Pere Tom Deitte, Fond du Lac Paul McDonough, Kenosha Don Rubow, Ladysmith Tom Boycks, Lake Mills Cindy Cole, Marshfield Tom Miller, Monroe Alice Rekstad, Platteville Melanie Burdick, Rice Lake Steve Sorenson, Ripon David Horner, Sheboygan Falls Elaine Erickson, Tigerton Jim Wise, Tomahawk Rusty Walesh, Two Rivers Lori Hemmersbach, Viroqua Michele Jones, Waterford Brian Konz, Watertown Kristine Zaballos, Whitewater 2016 Wisconsin Main Street Hall of Fame Inductees Nancy Beck, Osceola Sandra Budewitz, Watertown Debra Abt, Viroqua ### About the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing and maximizing opportunities in Wisconsin for businesses, communities and people to thrive in a globally competitive environment. Working with more than 600 regional and local partners, WEDC develops and delivers solutions representative of a highly responsive and coordinated economic development network. Visit or follow WEDC on to learn more. 5