MONTGOMERY ─ Lt. Governor Kay Ivey and Mary Helmer, President and State Coordinator of Main Street Alabama announced the winners of the Main Street Alabama Awards of Excellence this afternoon during the aLABama Downtown Laboratory in Montgomery.The aLABama Downtown Laboratory, a two-day conference, is a project of Main Street Alabama that bolsters the efforts of communities participating in the nationally acclaimed Main Street program or those communities interested in the revitalization program. The first annual event drew over 75 community leaders from 25 communities across the state.
“It’s an honor to recognize these outstanding community projects, leaders and volunteers,” stated Helmer. “Todays award winners represent the most innovative downtown revitalization projects in our Main Street Alabama communities. The effort and leadership it takes to move these projects from concept through completion is tremendous and we are thrilled to acknowledge such achievements. We are especially honored to be presenting these awards on Main Street Alabama Day, as proclaimed by Governor Bentley.”
Photo: from left, Athens-Limestone Tourism Director Teresa Todd, Athens Rotary President Amy Golden, Spirit of Athens Director Trisha Black, Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Executive Coordinator Lynne Hart, Athens Grease Festival Chairwoman Betsy Hyman and Athens Grease Festival Promotions Chairwoman Holly Hollman.
Athens: Lynn Hart
Birmingham: Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Dothan: Downtown Dothan Redevelopment Authority
Eufaula: Sone Kornegay
Florence: City of Florence
Gadsden: Sylvia F. Smith
Monroeville: Felicia Pettis
Opelika: Stacie Money
Oxford: Main Street Steering CommitteeMain Street Alabama Awards of Excellence are as follows:Excellence in Fundraising:
Athens Rotary Club
Opelika Cottonseed StudiosExcellence in Business Development:
Back Forty Beer Company, GadsdenExcellence in Downtown Marketing:
Main Street Opelika – Downtown Marketing Plan
Main Street Florence Downtown Ad Campaign No’AlaExcellence in Promotion:
REVBirmingham for the Streetlife Project
Spirit of Athens for Grease Festival
Main Street Gadsden for First Friday
Excellence in Business Promotion:
REVBirmingham for 2013 Birmingham Restaurant Week
Main Street Florence for Florence Foodies
Main Street Opelika for On the Tracks
Excellence in Planning & Public Spaces:
REVBirmingham for Birmingham Lights
Main Street Florence for Mural Project
Excellence in Historic Preservation:
Spirit of Athens for Historic Walking Tours
Main Street Alabama currently has 13 designated programs: Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, 
Birmingham, Decatur, Dothan, Eufaula, Florence, Gadsden, Monroeville, Opelika, Oxford, and Selma. New communities will be added annually. Applications to become a designated community will be available in spring 2015. Until then, communities interested in downtown revitalization can participate in Main Street Alabama’s Downtown Network.
Main Street Alabama focuses on bringing jobs, dollars and people back to Alabama’s historic communities. Economic development is at the heart of our efforts to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHENS MAIN STREET
