Main Street Awards - Quincy Region
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)
Pittsfield
Pittsfield Main Street won the Long-term Business Success Story Award for the Zimmerman Bros. Auto Dealership, honoring the organization�s role in helping to support the family-owned dealership, which has been in business on the eastside of Pittsfield�s downtown square since 1905.