HUTCHINSON— Lt. Governor Troy Findley and Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton helped announce the winners of the Main Street Awards of Excellence at the annual Kansas Downtown Symposium Oct. 22 at Memorial Hall in Hutchinsson. Hoisington Main Street Inc. was recognized with four awards.
Patty Horton, HMSI Promotion Committee chair won the Community Award for her commitment to the organization. "Patty is there during the planning, the start and the finish of the event and can always be depended on for support" said Denise Schreiber HMSI director.
The Hoisington Christmas Tree Gala and Auction won the Excellence in Fundraising Award.
RSVP Thrift Shop-Selma Webb won the Excellence in Architectural Design Award for façade improvements.
HMSI was honored as a Kansas Main Street Emeritus City. This is awarded when a main street community begins their sixth year.
"HMSI board, committee members and volunteers are the best and deserve to be recognized for their accomplishments and for achieving these awards. With this year being the 25th anniversary of Kansas Main Street it is special to win four awards" Schreiber said.
The Symposium is sponsored by the Department’s Kansas Main Street program and provides community developers and business leaders a chance to network, attend workshops and discuss downtown development in Kansas.
The annual event typically draws nearly 200 business and community leaders interested in downtown development, including city and county officials, entrepreneurs and small-business owners, as well as Main Street directors, board members and volunteers. This year, the Symposium helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Main Street program.
"It’s an honor to recognize these outstanding community development leaders and volunteers," Lt. Governor Findley said. "Tonight’s award winners represent the best of Kansas, and our commitment to preserving and revitalizing our historic downtown districts. This year’s Symposium and awards ceremony were especially exciting in light of this being the 25th anniversary of the Kansas Main Street program."
The Kansas Main Street program helps community volunteers revitalize their city’s historic business district.
The program tackles the complex issues of revitalization, capitalizing on downtown’s history and identifying the resources of the community itself. It started in 1985, and provides management training, consultation visits, program evaluation, design assistance, business enhancement strategies, incentive dollars and training for board and committee members and program directors.
Kansas Main Street is a self-help program. Staff provides technical assistance, but the responsibility and credit for success rests with the community leaders who offer time, expertise and enthusiasm to revitalizing downt
