Wisconsin Main Street Community in Running for National Honor

For Immediate Release: October 23, 2008
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

MADISON - On Broadway, Inc., Green Bay's Main Street organization, has been named as one of ten semi-finalists in the "2009 Great American Main Street Awards (GAMSA)." On Broadway, Inc. was selected from a nationwide pool of applicants and will now move on to the final round for consideration. A national jury comprised of former award winners, community development professionals, representatives from government and foundations and journalists who are active in community economic development and historic preservation will evaluate the semifinalists and select five winners.

"These semi-finalists have all worked hard to bring about profound, positive transformation in their communities. They are inspirations to communities throughout the country," said Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel. "True revitalization happens incrementally and is sustained over a long period of time, with small improvements leading to bigger ones."

The GAMSA Awards recognize exceptional accomplishments in revitalizing America's historic and traditional main street commercial districts and will be represented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation at the opening session of the National Main Streets Conference in Chicago on March 1, 2009.

The 2009 Great American Main Street Awards semifinalists are:

• Aledo Main Street, Inc. (Aledo, Illinois)
• Federal Hill Main Street (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Livermore Downtown, Inc. (Livermore, California)
• Main Street Toccoa (Toccoa, Georgia)
• Main Street Oberlin, Inc. (Oberlin, Ohio)
• Main Street Fairmont (Fairmont, West Virginia)
• On Broadway, Inc. (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
• Rochester DDA (Rochester, Michigan)
• Rehoboth Beach Main Street, Inc. (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware)

Established in 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2, 200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 28 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $44.9 billion in new public and private investment.

Participating communities have created 370,514 new jobs and 82,909 new businesses; and rehabilitated more than 199,500 buildings, leveraging an average of $25.36 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable.

For more information on Wisconsin's Main Street program, contact Jim Engle, Main Street director at 608/267-0766 or James.Engle@wisconsin.gov.

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