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On August 15, Main Street Alabama held its eleventh annual Awards of Excellence Banquet at the Community House in Monroeville to celebrate the successes of local programs. The event was sponsored by Alabama Municipal Electric Authority and University of West Alabama Division of Economic Development and Workforce Development. 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 Capital Campaign, Public/Private Partnerships, Volunteer Development, Promotion, Marketing, Business Promotion, Business Development, Placemaking, Property Activation, Non-Historic Building Design, Planning and Public Spaces, and Historic Rehabilitation. 

LaFayette Main Street was awarded the highly competitive Business Promotion award in recognition of their business promotions campaign, LaFayette Shines, this year. DeAnna Hand, executive director of LaFayette Main Street and Ansley Emfinger, Board of Directors, accepted the award on behalf of LaFayette Main Street at the banquet. 

Hand said she was extremely honored to be given this award, being that it’s only their second year as a designated community.

“It really exemplifies all of the hard work that our committees and volunteers do to make sure our businesses are successful,” Hand said. 

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 and was recognized at the Toast to Heroes Reception sponsored by Regions Bank prior to the banquet.

LaFayette Street, Sanitation and Cemetery Superintendent George Green and his department were awarded the Hero Award on behalf of the city of LaFayette. 

“We’re also very excited to be able to give recognition to George Green and his staff with the city of LaFayette,” Hand said. “They are true heroes to LaFayette Main Street because of their hard work and dedication in helping us with our events, new signage and making LaFayette vibrant.”

“We look forward to the Main Street Alabama conferences each year,” she added. “We hope to win many future awards as we take on additional projects and endeavors.”

“Last night’s event was a heartwarming celebration of the remarkable achievements of our local Main Street programs,” said Wirth.  “The inspiring success stories shared at the event truly highlighted the essence of community spirit and collaboration. It’s a testament to the effectiveness of Main Street’s Four-Point Approach in fostering economic development and preserving historic areas.”

Main Street Alabama has 33 Designated Programs and 29 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, Montgomery, Opelika, Oxford, Scottsboro, South Huntsville, Russellville, Talladega, and Wetumpka each have Designated Programs. 

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 their efforts to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.