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Main Street Atmore received five state awards during Main Street Alabama’s 11th annual Awards of Excellence Banquet at the Community House in Monroeville on Aug. 15.

Main Street Atmore received the excellence in capital campaign award for the creation of a strategic plan using all the features through the Main Street Atmore Foundation. With grant writers, foundation members, fundraising event and political outreach, MSA board members, via the Foundation raised over $400,000 last year; the excellence in promotion for the “Window Grinch Campaign” On the morning of the 2023 Parade, 11 businesses on South Main Street were vandalized (23 windows, 9 doors, one sign, and a toy soldier).  Main Street Atmore assessed the damage & declared the “Window Grinch Campaign” within an hour. They  encouraged owners to cover the vandalized window to look like gifts, and the Atmore Flower Shop decorated their remains window with a Grinch theme; the excellence in marketing for its initiative to establish an arts and entertainment district; the excellence in business development award for its Rainy-Day fund that’s designed to assist owners in enhancing their business or building  with no upfront cost. The 3-way initiative offers a grant for 50% of interior or exterior projects up to 7,000, an interest -free loan with a maximum of $3,500; and an emergency fund. The micro-loan and grants can be utilized for inventory, business equipment, wall repairs, interior renovations, and matching grants and emergency funds; and reinvestment award for over $5 million in reinvestment into the downtown district.

The banquet was sponsored by Alabama Municipal Electric Authority and University of West Alabama Division of Economic Development and Workforce Development. Main Street Alabama President and State Coordinator Mary Helmer Wirth, and Assistant State Coordinator Trisha Black recognized projects and individuals who made significant contributions to their communities.

The Awards of Excellence program highlighted the impacts of the honorees in their respective areas.

The Awards of Excellence recognized winners in the categories Capital Campaign, Public/Private Partnerships, Volunteer Development, Promotion, Marketing, Business Promotion, Business Development, Placemaking, Property Activation, Non-Historic Building Design, Planning and Public Spaces, and Historic Rehabilitation.

Local Main Street programs also selected a Main Street Hero that honored an individual, business or organization that made an outstanding contribution to their program and was recognized at the Toast to Heroes Reception sponsored by Regions Bank prior to the banquet.

Main Street Atmore recognized Nancy Karrick as a hero for her book “Memories of Main Street: Atmore, Alabama – A Special Place Remembered in Words and Pictures,” produced by NewSouth Inc.