Wisconsin Department of Commerce: Main Street 20th Anniversary Gala Awards -

Wisconsin Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Aaron Olver (far left) accepts a check representing the total private and public reinvestment Main Street Communities from across the state have generated from (from left) Olver, Virginia Kauffman of Tigerton, Charlotte Dodge and Sally Combs from Sharon and Fred Nelson of Viroqua. Over the program’s 20 year history, nearly $1 billion has been reinvested into member communities.

The Downtown Beloit Farmers Market was a co-winner for Best Special Event. The farmers market draws hundreds of people to downtown every Saturday. Each year the event grows and has doubled in size since it started 30 years ago.

The Ripon Jazz Festival was a co-winner for Best Special Event. It drew more than 3,000 people and featured some of the Wisconsin’s best jazz musicians, bicycle races, arts and crafts and food.

The Temple Theatre in Viroqua won the award for Best Historic Restoration Project. This theatre sat vacant for several years, but was restored with volunteer help. $1.6 million was raised to fund the restoration of this landmark building.

The Chippewa Falls Shoe Factory building, won the award for Best Adaptive Reuse Project. A developer from La Crosse created seven two-bedroom and 23 one-bedroom apartments and two efficiency units in this building, which was constructed in 1910. The total cost of rehabbing the building was $1.9 million.

The award for Best Downtown Public Improvement went to Riverview Park in Waupaca. This projected provided access to the river and with a three tier ramp connected the downtown with the park.

The winner for Best Downtown Business Development Success Story was Jim Siepmann of Pewaukee for the Old Main Building. This 20,000 sq. ft. of new construction has retail on the first floor and offices on the second floor along Pewaukee’s Lake front.

The award for Best Downtown Volunteer Program was Tigerton Main Street. This community has had a history of successful volunteer projects, such as the rehabilitation of Old Village Hall and the building of Veterans Memorial Park.

Volunteers from Tigerton Main Street accept the award for Best Downtown Volunteer Program. This was one of the Best of the 20 Years Awards presented on May 22 at the Monona Terrace as part of the Wisconsin Main Street program’s 20th Anniversary.

The On Broadway District in Green Bay won the Best Improved Downtown Business Climate. What was a community eyesore is now “the” place to be in Green Bay with great special event, such as the one shown from the Taste of Broadway, unique restaurants and diverse businesses.

Bev Anderson, Darlington
Bev Anderson has been a public servant for more than 40 years, serving on the Darlington City Council as a council member and then as mayor. She served on our Council on Main Street when she was Mayor of Darlington. When Darlington applied to the Main Street Program, Bev took a leave from the council. During this time, she devoted her efforts to making Darlington Main Street a top notch program. Bev rejoined the Main Street Council before retiring in 2005. She has been a constant advocate with extensive community development experience. Currently, Bev is still working hard on many local projects.

Fred Nelson, Viroqua
Under his leadership, Fred Nelson guided Viroqua through the steps of applying for Main Street status, and then stayed on to serve as president and mentor to future leaders of the program. For a decade, he served on the Wisconsin Main Street Council and traveled the state "walking the walk and talking the Main Street talk." In 1994, he purchased the Old Temple Theatre to save it from demolition. He donated the building to the Vernon County Historical Society and helped raise funds for its restoration, which was completed in 2002. Fred continues to be actively involved in Viroqua Partners.

Frances Williams, Sharon
Frances Williams was the cornerstone of Sharon Main Street, donating her time and money to the program for more than 10 years. She served as secretary of the board until her death at the age of 89. Sharon Main Street dedicated a memorial gazebo in the downtown to honor her life and legacy at the 2007 Victorian Christmas Evening. She was known for her undying loyalty and unselfish volunteerism. She was also a strong business woman who once ran a business with her husband.

Steven Schmidt, Sheboygan Falls
Steven Schmidt, owner of Jos. Schmidt & Sons Construction, has been a constant volunteer and supporter of the Sheboygan Falls Chamber/Main Street for 20 years. He is a true visionary who routinely takes on large-scale projects, such as Settlers Park and a downtown parking facility. Steven has been the driving force behind numerous of the major building restorations completed in Downtown Sheboygan Falls with everything from donating barricades to construction crews to even getting the "Falls Face Lifters" volunteer de-construction crew started. This crew helped to keep renovation costs down during the early days of the program.

Greg Larsen, Green Bay
Greg Larsen has been president of On Broadway, Inc.'s Board of Directors since May of 2000 and was a member of the board since its inception in 1995. Over the years, his knowledge of the Green Bay community and ability to establish public-private partnerships has been instrumental to the organization. His dedication to the district is evident from recruitment to fundraising. He can be counted on to attend ribbon cuttings for new businesses and special events for the organization. Greg was instrumental in securing the Larsen Canning co. site, a 22-acre site in the heart of the Broadway district.

Russ and Teddy Kostrzak of Tigerton
Russ and Teddy Kostrazk have been promoters of the Main Street program since 1993 when Tigerton became a Main Street Community. Russ helped write the application. Russ is a past president of Tigerton Main Street and still serves on the board. Russ and Teddy have been constant volunteers for all of the events. They also were large contributors to the restoration of the Old Village Hall. They also donated a 1953 Dodge truck that was raffled off to raise funds for Tigerton Main Street. Russ also serves as president of the Tigerton Historical Society. Russ and Teddy are unable to be here this evening, so accepting the award on their behalf is Virginia Kauffman.

Main Street Spirit Award
Our next award is the Main Street Spirit Award which recognizes a community, organization or individual that has demonstrated the commitment and enthusiasm to make the Main Street Program a top local and statewide priority and a positive downtown revitalization model. Community spirit, a commitment to downtown revitalization education, volunteer support, statewide advocacy, and support of downtown revitalization activities are all considered when selecting the winner of this award. Past winners are Viroqua, Tigerton, Waupaca, De Pere, Algoma, Chippewa Falls, Pewaukee, Bev Anderson and Ed Wendland, and last year's winner Sheboygan Falls.

Our first winner is the Downtown Beloit Farmers Market. Accepting the award is Betsy Schmiechen. For more than 30 years, Beloit's downtown Farmers Market has been a premiere event drawing hundreds of people to downtown every Saturday morning May through October. The farmers market has doubled its footprint and number of vendors in the last four years. During peak season more than 60 vendors sell their goods at the market ranging from local produce, baked goods, plants and crafts. Congratulations, Beloit.

Our second winner is the Jazz Festival in Ripon. Accepting the award is Craig Tebon. More than 3,000 people participated in the first annual Ripon Jazz Festival in June 1993. Coordinated by the Ripon Revitalization Corporation (RRC), the festival included some of Wisconsin's best jazz musicians, bicycle races, arts and crafts, and food. The event was free to the public. The festival also launched a regional promotional campaign that was funded by more than $3,500 in sponsorships. Congratulations, Ripon.

Best Downtown Facade Rehabilitation
The winner is Bemis Bath Shoppe in Sheboygan Falls. Accepting the award is Nancy Verstrate. Inappropriate changes and years of neglect contributed to this building's downfall. In this complete restoration, which included both the interior and exterior, the chimneys and fire escape were replaced, the brick was cleaned and tuck pointed, the storefront was rebuilt, and a new paint scheme was introduced. When the project was completed, Bemis Manufacturing opened an outlet store on the main floor and the project helped to spur renovations of more than 40 buildings downtown. Congratulations, Sheboygan Falls.

Best Historic Restoration Project
The winner is the Temple Theatre in Viroqua. Accepting the award is Fred Nelson. The Temple Theatre in downtown Viroqua had sat vacant for many years and was in bad shape. The roof leaked and volunteers helped to remove rotting carpet, restore 300 seats and painted the lobby. Community leaders started small by generating community interest with the restoration of the building's marquee. After a $1.6 million fund raising campaign, the entire theatre was restored and is back in use. Congratulations, Viroqua.

Best Adaptive Reuse Project
The winner is Chippewa Shoe Factory Apartments in Chippewa Falls. Accepting the award is Cindy Hunt. The Chippewa Shoe Factory was the last remaining shoe factory in Chippewa Falls. The building, constructed in 1910, was vacant for more than 17 years. A developer from La Crosse created seven two-bedroom and 23 one-bedroom apartments and two efficiency units. The city and the Main Street program worked very closely with the developer to finance the project. The total cost of rehabbing the building was $1.9 million. Congratulations, Chippewa Falls.

Best Downtown Public Improvement
The winner is Riverview Park in Waupaca. Accepting the Award is Henry Velker. Main Street Waupaca used a technical assistance visit from the Wisconsin Main Street Program to stir up interest for redeveloping Riverview Park. The project included clearing the park, installing a canoe launch, amphitheater, fish outcrops, picnic tables, playground equipment, and a 3 tier ramp connecting Riverview Park and Main Street. Prior to this development the only access to this park was an "alley way" behind the North Main Street businesses. Congratulations, Waupaca.

Best Downtown Business Development Success Story
The winner is Old Main Building in Pewaukee. Accepting the Award is Jim Siepmann. Jim Siepmann and the architectural firm, the Zimmerman Design Group, worked to develop Old Main Street. The building is 20,000-sq. - feet of new construction and includes eight façades, each with a different feel and color scheme. The two-story structure has retail on the bottom and office space on the 2nd floor. The building opened in April of 2003 with a variety of tenants, including retail and restaurants. Congratulations, Pewaukee.

Best Downtown Volunteer Program
The winner is Tigerton Main Street. Accepting the award are some of the volunteers from the Tigerton Main Street Program. Tigerton Main Street has a history of successful volunteer projects and has been recognized for their efforts in the past 15 years. Their most recent project was the rehabilitation of the Old Village Hall. They have also been recognized for the Join Hands Day, Veterans Memorial Park, holiday decorations and Christmas Light up. These events draw an average of 80 volunteers per project, which is more than 10 percent of the village's population. Congratulations, Tigerton.

Best Improved Downtown Business Climate
The winner is On Broadway, Inc. - Green Bay. Accepting the award is Greg Larsen, Naletta Burr and Dan Roarty. In 1995, the Broadway District in Green Bay was a community eyesore with marginal businesses and high crime rate. Now it is "the" place to be and is home to great special events, unique restaurants and diverse businesses. Along the way, On Broadway, Inc. has studied its market and listened to the residents as to the needs of the area. A classic example is the recruitment of the Save -a- Lot Grocery Store. Congratulations, On Broadway.