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WY MAIN STREETS: Rawlins Wins National Award, Laramie Mural Project Competition

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Wyo Lifestyle magazine Fall 2013.inddRawlins Receives National Main Street Award at Conference in Detroit

The Rawlins Downtown Development Authority/Main Street program received a One to Watch Award at this year’s National Main Streets Conference on May 18 in Detroit, Michigan.

The award recognizes exceptional communities working on very innovative projects, and that are poised on the cusp of major transformation. They exemplify the idea that any great Main Street is an ever-evolving work in progress and offer inspiration for other Main Street programs.  It is the first time the award has been given.  Middlesborough, Kentucky also received the One to Watch Award.

“Rawlins DDA/Main Street is thrilled to win the One to Watch Award. It recognizes all the hard work we have done through the organization,” said Pam Thayer, executive director of the Rawlins DDA/Main Street program.  “We could not have received the award without the amazing downtown merchants, the innovative property owners, the committed volunteers and the public and private support in the community.  It truly is an award for all.”

Detroit Award 1

Representatives from Rawlins, Wyo., stand to be recognized at the National Main Streets conference May 18 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo courtesy WY Main Street program)

In March, Rawlins was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA), a coveted award that recognizes exceptional Main Street communities with successes that serve as a model for comprehensive, preservation-based commercial district revitalization.  Rawlins’ nomination as a semifinalist for the GAMSA marked the first time a Wyoming Main Street community has been selected.  No community from the Rocky Mountain Region has previously won the GAMSA.

“The One to Watch Award is still an amazing recognition by the National Main Street organization and we could not be more proud of Rawlins for receiving this honor,” said Mary Randolph, executive director of the Wyoming Main Street program.  “The Rawlins community has worked so hard and is very deserving of this prestigious award.”

According to Thayer, over the past several years Rawlins  has seen many successes including: A drop in the downtown’s building vacancy rate from 45 percent to 10 percent; nearly 25,000 volunteer hours in the program since its inception in 2006, which equals an in-kind contribution to the program of $523,807; and 55 private and public rehabilitation projects completed.  The total dollars reinvested in the downtown district since 2008 is about $7.2 million; and for every dollar the Rawlins DDA/Main Street incurred in costs there was a return of $9.56 returned to the downtown district.

Detroit Award 2

Rawlins DDA/Main Street members received the One to Watch award on May 18 at the National Main Streets Conference in Detroit, Mich.  (L-R)Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; Pat Robbins, south central regional director for the Business Council; Eddie Archuleta, City Council, City of Rawlins; Mary Randolph, executive director of the Wyoming Main Street program;  Charel Coleman, Rawlins DDA/Main Street; Kacey Caldwell, Rawlins DDA/Main Street; Adam Mendenhall, Rawlins DDA/Main Street; Pam Thayer, executive director of the Rawlins DDA/Main Street program; Karen Fate, Senior BRC/CFP Grant & Loan Specialist at the Business Council; Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center; Barbara Sidway, chair, National Main Street Center Board of Directors. (Photo courtesy WY Main Street program)

For more information about the Wyoming Main Street program, contact Mary Randolph at 307.777.6430 or mary.randolph@wyo.gov.  For information about the Rawlins DDA/Main Street program contact Pam Thayer at 307.328.2099 or rawlinsmainstreeted@rawlins-wyoming.com.

The Wyoming Main Street program was established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2004. The National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, emphasizes a four-point approach to revitalization:  economic restructuring, design, organization and promotion.

The mission of the Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. The Business Council, a state government agency, concentrates its efforts on providing assistance for existing Wyoming companies and start-ups, helping communities meet their development and diversification needs, and recruiting new firms and industries targeted to complement the state’s assets. For more information, please visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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