On April 8, Wisconsin Economic Development Center (WEDC) hosted its annual Main Street Awards banquet in Marshfield. With downtown business Circle the Date (which won Best Storefront Display last year) donating their time and beautiful decorations, as well as local photographer Paul Tishim capturing the night’s festivities, Marshfield was not only awarded, but represented well at the event, which celebrated the 36 Main Street communities from throughout the state.
For more than 25 years, the WEDC’s Main Street program has been helping preserve and
Decorations by: Circle The Date
revitalize downtowns and historic commercial districts across the state of Wisconsin. Since 1987, the initiative has resulted in 12,000 jobs created, 2,300 new businesses, $329,000 invested publicly, and more than $1 billion private investments into downtown.
Communities seeking to participate in the program undergo an extensive application process, and those selected receive free, intensive technical assistance with an end goal of professionally managing a downtown that is stable, physically attractive, competitive, and visible.
Also celebrating 25 years, Main Street Marshfield was on the ground floor of this initiative.
“This event is to celebrate those communities and all the different projects that they’ve been working on, as well as their volunteers and board members,” said Angie Eloranta, Executive Director of Main Street Marshfield.
Howard Family
Marshfield received the following awards:
Best Interior Renovation Over $50,000: Blodgett Haus (Howard Family)
Best New Business Development Program: Holiday Pop-up Shops
Best Storefront Display: My Oh My Boutique (Barb Mueller)
Main Street Marshfield also honored its Board Member of the year, Lois TeStrake, and Volunteer of the Year, Rodney Feltz.
“This event is important because it showcases all the work that you’ve done throughout the year to revitalize the downtown,” said Eloranta. “It is really just a fun event to go to because you see what other communities are doing and it gives you ideas for new things to do in your own community. It’s kind of uplifting and reminds you that what you are doing is important.”
Eloranta describes the downtown as the “heartbeat” of a City.
“It’s a gathering place. It’s a place where a community can come together to support local businesses and spend time with family and friends,” she said. “It showcases the culture and the uniqueness of your community.”
Eloranta added that the economic stability of a City’s downtown is indicative of whether that town is thriving or not, and it is up to residents to make sure it is prospering.
“As local residents, we need to explore what we have in our own town and promote that,” she said. “There are a lot of unique small businesses down here that a lot of people don’t really realize. People get so caught up in their daily routines that they don’t get the chance to breakaway and explore what we really have here.”
