LOCAL

Downtown Gadsden entities reap Main Street Alabama honors

The Gadsden Times

Main Street Alabama President Mary Helmer and Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts Executive Director Tom Banks pose among the figure in the After Classes sculpture outside the center. The sculpture earned a Placemaker award from Main Street Alabama.

Main Street Alabama recently announced its seventh annual Awards of Excellence winners, and downtown Gadsden was well represented.

The awards were selected to honor projects and individuals that made tremendous impacts in their respective communities, according to Downtown Gadsden Inc. Executive Director Kay Moore.

"It's an honor to recognize the outstanding community projects, leaders and volunteers," Main Street Alabama President Mary Helmer said in a press release. "The awards represent the good work being done in Main Street Alabama communities, including those that were initiated after the pandemic, sparking creative ways to promote and help struggling businesses"

Main Street Hero award winner Catherine Martin posed with Main Street Alabama President Mary Helmer.

Winners were selected from across the state. Gadsden winners were:

Main Street Hero: Catherine Martin, Exchange Bank The awards went to individuals, businesses and organizations that made an outstanding contribution to their local Main Street program.

Caleb and Jenna Campbell, and Anna Campbell (not pictured) received an Adaptive Reuse Award from Main Street Alabama President Mary Helmer. At left is Tyler Gillihan of B. Craig Lipscomb Architects, who oversaw the project.

Adaptive Reuse: Lofts @ 612 in Gadsden. The award recognized the best adaptive reuse of a building that has outlived its former use, including conversions to housing and office space, multiple businesses, public meeting space, restaurants, cultural centers, etc.

Main Street Alabama President Mary Helmer presented Mike Jones, of Jones Land Development LLC with the Building Deisgn Award.

Building Designs: Jones Land Development LLC for the 420 Broad Street project. The award recognizes outstanding completed design projects including facade renovation and/or interior renovation efforts and infill construction.

Historic Rehabilitation: Knowles and Sullivan LLC at 413 Broad St. The award recognizes historic rehabilitation project the continue the economic uses of the buildings.

Main Street Alabama President Mary Helmer presented Christie Knowles, Jason Knowles and Josh Sullivan (not pictured) with the Historic Rehabiliation award.

Placemaking: After Classes sculpture at the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts. The award recognizes outstanding local efforts that capitalize on local assets, inspiration and potential, with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people's health, happiness, and well-being.

Main Street Alabama has 28 designated programs and 20 Downtown Network Communities. The organization focuses on bringing jobs, dollars and people back to Alabama's historic communities, according to the press release.