For immediate release
Main Street Award Finalists Announced
The Oklahoma Main Street Center has announced the top three finalists in 22 awards categories. The first place winner will be announced and honored at the annual Main Street Awards banquet March 30, 2010.
The over 200 nominations we received this year represent the best of Oklahoma Main Streets and all are winning nominations. The Top Three represent the best of the best,” said Linda Barnett, Director of the Oklahoma Main Street Center, Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
The categories reflect the elements of the Main Street Four Point Approach – Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring – which work together to build a sustainable and complete community revitalization effort.
The Top Three include:
Point: Organization
Premier Partner
Durant Main Street – Cardinal Glass
Hobart Main Street – Hobart Public Schools
Newkirk Main Street – Kaw Nation
Best Community Education/Public Awareness Program
Cherokee Main Street – Cherokee Main Street Phone Book
Main Street Pauls Valley – New Moon Social Media Promotion
Ponca City Main Street – Adventures in History & Heritage
Best Volunteer Development Program
Main Street Altus – Join Our Main Street Family
Hobart Main Street – Celebration of Freedom Committee
Newkirk Main Street – Charlie Adams Day
Main Street Hero
Main Street Enid – Lynn Smith
Hobart Main Street – Mayor Tom Talley
Newkirk Main Street – Sandra Cline
Best Creative Fundraising Effort
Main Street Enid – Stakeholders Fundraiser
Hobart Main Street – Coins Around the Courthouse
Poteau Main Street – Main Street Banquet
Best Main Street Youth Involvement
Durant Main Street -High School Service Learning Project
Hobart Main Street – Hobart Junior Main Street
Sayre Main Street – Sayre Junior Main Street
Point: Promotion
Premier Special Event
Collinsville Downtown – 8th Annual Hogs N Hot Rods
Hobart Main Street – Pumpkin Palooza/Punkin’ Chunkin’
Newkirk Main Street – Journey Stories
Best Retail Event
Altus – Candy Cane “Sweet”Stakes
Enid – Mornings on Main Street
Plaza District – LIVE on the Plaza
Outstanding Image Promotion
Main Street Enid – Shop, Dine, Be Entertained
Newkirk Main Street – Journey Stories Walking Tour Brochure
Plaza District – Best of OKC Campaign
Creative New Event
Durant Main Street – Skating on the Square
Hobart Main Street – Celebration of Freedom
Poteau Main Street -Kiamichi Outdoor Sportman’s Festival
Outstanding Web Presence
Durant Main Street – Durant Main Street Online!
Main Street Enid – www.mainstreetenid.org
Sayre Main Street – www.sayremainstreet.com
Point: Design
Best Public Improvement Project
El Reno Main Street – Downtown Sidewalk Improvement Project
Ponca City Main Street – Historic Murals and Signs
Tahlequah Main Street – Floyd Norris Park
Best Interior Design Projects
Durant Main Street – 2nd Street Bakery
Main Street Enid – Body Solid
Main Street Pauls Valley – Royal Twin Theater
Best Façade Rehabilitation Under $10,000
Collinsville Downtown – Roderick Building – Main Street Office
Hobart Main Street – Jake Hunn Building
Talihina Main Street – Treats and Treasures
Best Façade Rehabilitation Over $10,000
Cherokee Main Street – Cherokee City & County Library
Durant Main Street – RanSherSu Building
Talihina Main Street – Pollocks Building
Best Window Display
Main Street Altus – Lady Austin’s
Mangum Main Street – Flowers Unlimited
Poteau Main Street – The Purple Plume
Best Building / Business Signage
Newkirk Main Street – Eastman National Bank
Pauls Valley – Yeatts Home Furnishings
Main Street of Perry – Wear the Shoe Fits
Point: Economic Restructuring
Best Adaptive Reuse Project
Main Street Enid – Park Avenue Thrift
Hobart Main Street – Sesaco Sesame Seed Company
Plaza District – Velvet Monkey Salon
Best Business Practices
Durant Main Street – Marie’s
Main Street of Perry – Kemnitz Sinclair Station and Oil Company
Plaza District – Café Evoke Catering
Best New Business Downtown
Main Street Altus – The Fowler House Bed and Breakfast
Durant Main Street – Take 2 Boutique
Poteau Main Street – Sassy Cat Antiques and Tearoom
Downtown Business of the Year
Main Street Altus – The Enchanted Door
Mangum Main Street – Allen’s Home Center
Ponca City Main Street – Angel Central
Program Manager of the Year
Main Street Altus – Amy Jo Cobb
Ardmore Main Street – James Lamey
Wilburton Main Street – Maryellen Mooney.
The first-place winner in each category will be announced at the annual awards Main Street Awards Banquet to be held March 30, 2010 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department will also be recognized at the banquet as the 2010 Friend of Main Street for their outstanding contributions to the state and local programs.
“They have been a superb partner at the State Fair, our August training, and of course, in recruiting the National Main Streets Conference to Oklahoma City,” said Barnett.
This year’s banquet will feature two new awards.
The Community of the Year Award will recognize the Main Street Community who led other towns by earning the most quality assurance points during the 2009 calendar year. The top ten communities (in alphabetical order) include: Durant Main Street, Hobart Main Street, Newkirk Main Street, Okmulgee Main Street, Main Street Pauls Valley, Main Street of Perry, RedFork Main Street, Stockyards City Main Street, Talihina Main Street, Wilburton Main Street. The top points earner will be revealed at the banquet.
“In our 25th year of Main Street in Oklahoma we are also honoring our founding fathers and mothers, the individuals whose insight and hard work brought this program to Oklahoma,” said Barnett.
Founders Awards will be presented to the 15 leaders who are responsible for establishing the Oklahoma Main Street Program in 1986.
Tickets can be purchased from your local Main Street program for $36 if purchased before March 16, 2010. After that date, tickets will be $46.
If you are not located in a designated Main Street community and would like to attend the banquet, mail your reservations to Sapulpa Main Street at 101 E Dewey, PO Box 1290, Sapulpa, OK 74066‐4203 or contact their office at 918.224.5709 (director@sapulpamainstreet.com).
. A sampling of the wonderful things happening on Oklahoma Main Streets this weekend. Can’t make it to an event? It’s a great weekend to simply shop your nearest Main Street. Have a good one!
