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.� 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. 2007 Main Street Award Recipients Lt. Governor�s Awards for Excellence in Downtown Revitalization (Communities in alphabetical order) Batavia Batavia Main Street received the Existing Event Partnership award for taking the lead on BatFest 2006, a community Halloween festival that drew 3,000 people, including 1,000 trick-or-treaters. Batavia Main Street also won the Business Retention or Recruitment Activity award for �Bridging Batavia,� a campaign to retain and promote business in downtown Batavia during the Wilson Street Bridge reconstruction. The Limestone Coffee & Tea renovation of a quaint 900-square-foot space, which added a vibrant new business to the lively �Restaurant Row� on North River Street, won the Interior Rehabilitation award. Crystal Lake Downtown Crystal Lake won the Creative Fundraising Campaign award for the Great Ball Race Raffle. The organization received the award for adding the Great BIG Ball Race � a four-person uphill footrace featuring local celebrities dressed in large colored ball costumes � as an element to spice up the Great Ball Race Raffle. As a result, ticket sales increased by nearly $1,000 over the previous year. Elgin The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin won three of the five awards in the design category. �I Spy Downtown,� an architectural treasure hunt created to teach children about Downtown Elgin�s historic character and promote preservation, won the Design Committee Project award. Elgin�s Festival Park, a new three-acre, $11 million project that includes interactive fountains, gardens, playgrounds, bike paths and green space, shared the Public Improvements award. The Illinois Second District Appellate Courthouse, a mid-century modernist building maintained in partnership by the Illinois Capital Development Board and the Court Clerk, was honored with the Building Stewardship Award. Genoa Genoa Main Street won the Retail Event Award for its Main Street Scholarship promotion, which raised awareness of downtown businesses and attracted shoppers while also generating a $1,000 scholarship for a Genoa-Kingston High School graduating senior. St. Charles Downtown St. Charles Partnership won two awards. The organization received the Downtown Image Campaign award for �Whatever You Do, Do It in Downtown St. Charles,� a marketing and advertising campaign to raise awareness of the downtown district�s many options for shopping, dining, entertainment, employment and investing. Downtown St. Charles Partnership also won the New Sign or Restoration of an Historic Sign Award for its contributions to the new downtown kiosks containing maps and business directories. The kiosk project, initiated by the Public Works Department of St. Charles, includes additions suggested by the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, such as historic and current photographs and promotions of local businesses and current events. Waukegan Waukegan Main Street�s Theodora �Teddy� Anderson won Illinois Main Street Executive Director of the Year and Waukegan Main Street was recognized as a Premier Program. Waukegan Main Street also won the Partnership Development award for �Night on Main Street,� a signature event that brings together merchants, city officials, and leaders of not-for-profit groups to promote their accomplishments and find new ways to create partnerships. Although it began as a small gathering in 2002, �Night on Main Street� has now expanded to include 400 participants. |