Award Nominations
Award Winners 2007
Welcome to the online nomination form for the Annual Awards process of the Michigan Downtown Conference. Any community may submit in the Project-based category and only participants of the Michigan Main Street may submit in the Main Street category. Main Street projects may be considered in a Project-Based category. For a complete description of the award criteria see below. The deadline for submission is July 15, 2008.
Project-Based Awards
Green Project - The successful entry in this category will demonstrate principles of sustainability and/or green building design that enhances downtowns or traditional commercial neighborhoods. The project or promotion submitted must achieve measurable energy-saving/efficiency standards, and have documented evidence that the project utilized sustainable products, programs, and practices. A Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified project will receive special consideration. Redevelopment - This category is for projects that reuse or rehabilitate existing downtown properties. The successful entry must show measurable community impact demonstrated by news clippings or other proof that the property has been returned to productive use for the community. Projects that have garnered significant private investment and/or leverage of local, state and federal incentives will earn additional consideration. Innovation - This is the all-purpose category to showcase your communities' "big idea" for your downtown. Any project, program, or promotion that has enhanced the downtown in a cutting edge fashion should be considered. Demonstrate your "big idea" with a brief description that includes photos and measurable results. Living Downtown - This category is for downtown-based, mixed-use housing projects. Communities must demonstrate the positive impact to the downtown area in narrative form. Give us the facts and figures too - number of units, affordable vs. market rate, costs to develop, public and private investment, etc. Describe the project and submit before/after photographs of interior and exterior views and other information to support the nomination. Small Community Façade Rehabilitation - Small communities up to 10,000 in population will qualify for consideration in façade improvement projects. These projects should be downtown-based, mixed use with improvements made in the spirit of historic preservation. Before and after photos are essential to evaluate the visual impact to the community. Any historic photographs of the façade that are available should also be submitted to support the design and integrity of the façade rehabilitation. Projects in this category can be for façade work only, or for façade work that was part of a larger building rehabilitation project. The nominated project could be for a single façade, or multiple facades that were completed at the same time under a special façade or building rehabilitation program. Consideration will also be given to projects that have a high community impact such as a corner building with multiple facades, or rear facades that are highly visible. Large Community Façade Rehabilitation - Large Communities with populations over 10,000 will qualify for consideration in façade improvement projects. See award description for "Small Community Façade Rehabilitation Project". Blueprints - This award will be given to a local Blueprint for Michigan's Downtown community for the overall impact the program has had on the downtown since going through the Blueprint process. The successful entry will describe both major and minor activities and/or projects completed by the program that has led to positive changes within the community. Describe the program's successes and submit photographs, news articles, statistics, and/or other information to support the nomination. Collaboration - Working together is the key to successful community transformation. Successful entries will demonstrate the breadth and depth of collaborative relationships. Describe the project or projects around which the collaboration has occurred. Quantify and identify the collaborators and their contributions. Describe results and submit photographs, news articles, or other information to support the nomination.Main Street Awards
Main Street Four Points - DesignThis category is for a successful project completed by the local Main Street community's Design Committee. The project should be unique and focus on at least one component of the committee's responsibilities including: design and/or historic preservation education, design assistance, public improvements, downtown planning, and/or design incentives. Describe the project and results and submit photographs, news articles, or other information to support the nomination. Main Street Four Points - Organization
This category is for a successful project completed by the local Main Street community's Organization Committee. The project should be unique and focus on at least one component of the committee's responsibilities including: volunteer management activities, volunteer recruitment and retention strategies, promotion or the local Main Street program, training opportunities for local volunteers, and/or fundraising activities. Describe the project and results and submit photographs, news articles, brochures, newsletters, web-site pages, or other information to support the nomination. Main Street Four Points - Promotion
This category is for a successful project completed by the local Main Street community's Promotion Committee. The project should be unique and focus on at least one component of the committee's responsibilities including: special events, retail events, branding and marketing activities, downtown/business directories, and image-building projects. Describe the project and results and submit photographs, news articles, event posters, directories, or other information to support the nomination. Main Street Four Points - Economic Restructuring
This category is for a successful project completed by the local Main Street community's Economic Restructuring Committee. The project should be unique and focus on at least one component of the committee's responsibilities including: business retention strategies, business recruitment activities, utilizing market studies, business/building incentives, business education programs, and community-initiated development projects. Describe the project and results and submit photographs, news articles, or other information to support the nomination. Michigan Main Street Program of the Year
This award will be given to a local Michigan Main Street program for the overall impact it has had on the downtown over the past year and its utilization of the Main Street Four-Point Approach. The successful entry will describe both major and minor activities and/or projects completed by the program that has led to positive changes within the community. Describe the program's successes and submit photographs, news articles, statistics, or other information to support the nomination. Michigan Main Street Manager of the Year
This award will be given to a Main Street Manager for the overall impact he/she has had on the local Main Street program. The successful entry will describe how the manager has coordinated and facilitated activities of the Board of Directors and committees, been a resource to downtown property and business owners, fostered collaboration with other organizations, and been a positive force behind the program's success. Describe the Manager's impact and submit photographs, news articles, statistics, or other information to support the nomination. Robert Busby Volunteer of the Year
This award will be given to a Main Street volunteer for the overall impact he/she has had on the local Main Street program or a specific committee. The successful entry will describe how the volunteer has been an integral part of the local program. Describe the volunteer's impact and submit photographs, news articles, number of volunteer hours, statistics, or other information to support the nomination.