Main Street Awards
Link: http://www.standingupforillinois.org/feature.php?id=185
Lt. Governor Pat Quinn announced the winners of the 2007 Lt. Governor�s Awards for Excellence in Downtown Revitalization at the closing banquet of the 14th annual Illinois Main Street Conference, held in Danville�s David S. Palmer Arena.
�These awards recognize the very best work by Illinois towns and cities to promote economic growth, tourism, historic preservation, and civic democracy in their downtown business districts,� Quinn said. �I am proud to salute these members of the Illinois Main Street Program for their efforts, and I know the good example they set will benefit communities throughout the Land of Lincoln.�
Quinn also accepted an honor on behalf of the Main Street Program, which was cited by AIA (American Institute of Architects) Illinois in its list of �150 Illinois Great Places� earlier this year. AIA Illinois included �Main Street� on its list of architecturally significant places, and noted: �Main Streets in Illinois have a special advocate in the Illinois Main Street Program.�
�This honor recognizes the special contribution that Illinois Main Streets make to the quality of life in our state,� Quinn said.
At the ceremony, Quinn presented 26 awards in five categories, including Illinois Main Street Executive Director of the Year to Waukegan Main Street�s Theodora �Teddy� Anderson.
�Teddy Anderson has shown tireless leadership and provides an extraordinary level of service as executive director,� Quinn said. �I salute her for her dedication, her commitment, and her willingness to create strong partnerships that benefit Waukegan Main Street and help the entire community.�
At the ceremony, Quinn recognized Waukegan Main Street and Vandalia Main Street as new Premier programs, joining Aledo Main Street, Downtown Crystal Lake, Jacksonville Main Street and the Historic Quincy Business District in the elite top ranks of Illinois Main Street Programs. The Premier ranking is given to programs that have maintained extraordinarily high standards and become leaders throughout the state.
Quinn also announced three new Associate members of the Illinois Main Street Program � Canton, Hoopeston and Woodstock. These communities will work over the next 15 months to earn full status as designated Illinois Main Street Communities. They were chosen from a record group of 26 communities that sent representatives to Illinois Main Street application workshops earlier this spring.
The awards ceremony was the highlight of the Illinois Main Street Conference, held at the Danville Masonic Center, 109 W. North St. Nearly 300 Main Street leaders, volunteers and local officials attended the conference.
This year�s theme, �Main Street for All Seasons � Strategies for Sustainability,� was underscored by the keynote address, �Moving Beyond Change,� presented by Springfield-based consultant Kevin Lust. Other presenters offered expert advice on marketing, promotions, public relations, and historic preservation.
Illinois Main Street represents one of the state's most effective public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal. Since its inception, designated communities have reported net gains of more than 1,600 new downtown businesses and created more than 6,000 new full and part-time jobs. The Main Street program has spurred the reinvestment of more than $575 million in Main Street downtowns.
Illinois is one of 40 states participating in the National Main Street program, administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Lt. Governor�s Office administers the Illinois Main Street program, now the fourth-largest in the nation, with architectural assistance from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.