Award Nominations
Award Winners 2008
Welcome to the online nomination form for the Michigan Downtown Conference awards. We invite all communities to submit nominations in the Project-based categories, while only Michigan Main Street Select and Master Level communities may submit in the Main Street Category.
For a complete description of the awards and nomination criteria, please see the descriptions below. The deadline for submission is 5pm, July 1, 2009. You will receive a confirmation email following a successful online nomination.
Project-Based Awards
Green Project (Small-Scale*) - Successful entries in this category will demonstrate principles of sustainability and/or green building design that enhance 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. Describe the project and results; in addition, submit photographs, news articles, brochures, newsletters, web-site pages, or other information to support the nomination.
*Scale represents the scope of a project, not the size or population of the municipality where Green Project is located.
Green Project (Large-Scale) - Projects that are large in their scope will qualify for consideration in the Green Projects (Large-Scale). See award description for “Green Project (Small-Scale)”.
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. Describe the project and results; in addition, submit photographs, news articles, brochures, newsletters, web-site pages, or other information to support the nomination.
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 of the project and measurable results; in addition, submit photographs, news articles, brochures, newsletters, web-site pages, or other information to support the nomination.
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 Project - 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 Project - 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 - Design - This 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.