Oklahoma Main Street Announces 2020 Award Winners

The Oklahoma Main Street Center announced today the winners of the program’s annual statewide awards competition. All finalists were honored during the 31st annual Main Street Awards Virtual Presentation on December 15th.

Programs across the state competed in 20 award categories representing the “four points” of the Main Street Approach – Organization, Promotion, Economic Vitality and Design. Panels of outside judges for each point reviewed the entries and determined the winners.

The Main Street Program of the Year award recognized the top program in the state. The programs earning the most quality assurance points during the 2019 calendar year were invited to submit a short essay in support of their selection as Main Street Program of the Year. A panel of outsides judges reviewed the essays to determine the winner. The programs for 2019 (in alphabetical order) include: Altus, Ardmore, Cherokee, El Reno, Enid, Kendall Whittier, Newkirk, Okmulgee, Ponca City, and Wilburton. The Main Street Program of the Year was Kendall Whittier Main Street.

In addition, the Watonga Bob Shoemaker Award, given to the outstanding program director, was awarded during the broadcast. A local program director must first be nominated by their own board of directors. The nomination is based on 10 different categories. Ratings by their peers and state staff determine the top program directors. Those making the top of the list included: Jeff DiMiceli, Ardmore Main Street Authority; Schaun Aker, Cherokee Main Street; Heather Sumner, Okmulgee Main Street; and Chelsea McConnell, Ponca City Main Street. And, the award went to Schaun Aker, Cherokee Main Street

The award winners for each category are as follows:

ORGANIZATION:
Premier Partner
Kendall Whittier – Ziegler Art & Frame

Best Community Education/Public Awareness
Ponca City – Main Street Mixer

Best Volunteer Development Program
Newkirk – Newkirk Leadership Class

Main Street Hero
Durant – Curt Walker, Develop Durant 123

Best Creative Fundraising Effort
Ponca City – BrewFest

PROMOTION:
Premier Special Event Under 1,000 Attendees
Ponca City – BrewFest

Premier Special Event Over 1,000 Attendees
Ada – Ada Fest

Best Retail Event
Enid – Main Street CLUE
Enid – Main Street Mini Golf

Outstanding Image Promotion
Enid – Monthly Awareness Banners

Creative New Event
Ponca City – Main Street Mixer

DESIGN:
Best Placemaking Project
Enid – Giant Scrabble

Best Interior Design Project
Kendall Whittier – The Bobby Pin

Best Façade Rehabilitation Under $10,000
Altus – Southwest Crop Insurance

Best Façade Rehabilitation Over $10,000
Kendall Whittier – American Solera

Best Visual Merchandising
Sapulpa – GiGi’s Gourmet Popcorn

Best Building/Business Branding
Enid – Enid Brewing Company

ECONOMIC VITALITY:
Best Adaptive Reuse Project
Altus – Whirlwind Book Bar

Best Business Practices
Ada – The Diamond Shop

Best New Business
Yukon – Urban Boondocks Market

Business of the Year
Ada – McSwain Theatre
Altus – The Enchanted Door