Downtown FDL Partnership Recognized During WI Main Street Awards

Numerous representatives from downtown businesses attended the Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony on April 7, 2017 where downtown Fond du Lac received numerous awards. Back row from left: Gary Culver, Amy Hansen, Dusty Krikau, Tracy Mathweg, Phil Shephard, Katelyn Culver. Front row from left: Sara Hathaway, Katie Sperbeck, Ann Culver, Julie Balson, Sara Cujak.

The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership (DFP) was recognized for its outstanding downtown revitalization efforts at the 26th Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony on Friday, April 7, in Wisconsin Rapids.

The DFP took top honors in three categories: Best Business Development/Retention Program, Best Retail Event, and Best Image Campaign. The awards ceremony was hosted by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and recognized the efforts by Wisconsin Main Street volunteers and staff for their historic preservation and downtown economic development efforts of communities in Wisconsin in 2016.

“WEDC congratulates the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership for its outstanding efforts to revitalize and improve downtown,” said Mark Hogan, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “A vibrant downtown is critical to a community’s overall economic development as well as the quality of life for its residents, and we commend Downtown Fond du Lac for being among the best in the state when it comes to strengthening its downtown.”

Best Business Development/Retention Program was awarded to the 2016 Downtown Morning Marketing Meetups, an informal opportunity for downtown business and property owners to troubleshoot marketing concerns and ideas.

Best Retail Event was awarded to the 2016 Shop Small Raffle which captured data from the holiday shopping season and recorded sales from 33 different zip codes.

Best Image Campaign was awarded to the 2016 Downtown Fond du lac Farmers Market Poster Series with posters designed to recall the icons and colors used in the Farmers Market logo and featuring kitschy pun humor.

Amy Hansen, Executive Director of the DFP, was recognized for ten years of service to Fond du Lac’s downtown, during which the organization has received more than 20 state and national awards.

Katie Sperbeck received the 2015-16 Main Street Volunteer of the Year Award. Sperbeck has served on numerous committees with the DFP, including chairing the Kids Zone at Fondue Fest. Her zest for volunteering means that attendees to downtown events are sure to recognize her face from the registration table, as their crossing guard, or giving guidance to them in the rain.

Tom Deitte was recognized with the 2015-16 Main Street Honorary Board of Directors Award. Deitte served on the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership Board of Directors since 2009. In December 2016, he completed a seven-year term, which included service on the Executive Committee as Board Treasurer for 2013 & 2014 and Board President for 2015 & 2016.

Wisconsin Main Street is a community development program administered by WEDC that targets Wisconsin’s historic commercial districts. WEDC provides technical support and training to the 34 Main Street communities to help them revitalize their business districts based on guidelines developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Since the program’s inception in 1987, Wisconsin Main Street community projects have resulted in the creation of more than 2,600 new businesses and more than 13,000 net new jobs. In addition, more than $1.6 billion in public and private investment has occurred in Wisconsin Main Street communities.

Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership has been part of the Wisconsin Main Street Program since 2004.

The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership, Inc.  is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people, activity, business and a thriving civic life back to the heart of Fond du Lac. The DFP serves 214 properties with 284 businesses, 76% of which are small, locally-owned and operated.

For a complete list of all the 2016 Main Street award winners, visit www.InWisconsin.com.