Anniston, AL – The City of Anniston shared that on August 17, 2023, Main Street Alabama held its tenth annual Awards of Excellence Banquet at Stovehouse in Huntsville to celebrate the successes of local programs. The event was sponsored by Alabama Municipal Electric Authority and Alfa Companies. Main Street Alabama’s President and State Coordinator, Mary Helmer Wirth, and Assistant State Coordinator, Trisha Black, recognized projects and individuals who made significant contributions to their communities. The Awards of Excellence program highlighted the tremendous impacts of these honorees in their respective areas.
The Awards of Excellence recognized winners in the categories of Preservation, Historic Rehabilitation, Fundraising, Public Relations, Public/Private Partnerships, Business Development, Economic Impact, Adaptive Reuse, Promotion, Business Promotion, Marketing, Placemaking, Non-Historic Building Design, and Planning & Public Space. Local Main Street programs also selected a Main Street Hero that honored an individual, business or organization that made an outstanding contribution to their program.
“On behalf of the City of Anniston and Main Street Anniston, I couldn’t be more grateful to accept these Awards of Excellence from Main Street Alabama. We believe in the City of Anniston, Main Street Anniston, and the power of our community to make Downtown Anniston a thriving community where residents stay and visitors return. We are creating a vibrant downtown where friends gather and businesses flourish. A place where memories are made and community bonds grow stronger. We appreciate this recognition of the continuous efforts of Main Street Anniston.” – Main Street Anniston Executive Director, Karla Eden
Main Street Anniston received the following awards of excellence:
- Main Street Hero | Anniston Parks & Recreation Department
- Excellence in Public/Private Partnership | Sparklight & Main Street Anniston
- Excellence in Marketing | Main Street Minute
- Excellence in Planning & Public Space | Noble Street Park
- Excellence in Reinvestment | Passing $50 Million in Lifetime Downtown Reinvestments
*Photos Courtesy of the City of Anniston
About Main Street Alabama:
Main Street Alabama has 32 Designated Programs and 32 Network Communities. Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Atmore, Birmingham’s Historic 4th Ave Business District, Birmingham’s Woodlawn District, Calera, Centreville, Columbiana, Decatur, Demopolis, Elba, Enterprise, Eufaula, Florence, Foley, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Heflin, Jasper, LaFayette, Leeds, Marion, Monroeville, Montevallo, Opelika, Oxford, Scottsboro, South Huntsville, Russellville, Talladega, and Wetumpka each have Designated Programs. Communities interested in downtown revitalization can participate in Main Street Alabama’s Network. Main Street Alabama is a non-profit organization focusing 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.
