Newkirk, Ponca City win State Main Street awards

Press Release

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Main Street Center has announced the winners of the program’s annual statewide awards competition. All finalists were honored during the 31st annual Main Street Awards Virtual Presentation on Dec. 15th

Programs across the state competed in 20 award categories representing the “four points” of the Main Street Approach – Organization, Promotion, Economic Vitality and Design. Panels of outside judges for each point reviewed the entries and determined the winners.

The Main Street Program of the Year award recognized the top program in the state. The programs earning the most quality assurance points during the 2019 calendar year were invited to submit a short essay in support of their selection as Main Street Program of the Year. A panel of outsides judges reviewed the essays to determine the winner. The programs for 2019, in alphabetical order, include: Altus, Ardmore, Cherokee, El Reno, Enid, Kendall Whittier, Newkirk, Okmulgee, Ponca City, and Wilburton. The Main Street Program of the Year was Kendall Whittier Main Street.

In addition, the Watonga Bob Shoemaker Award, given to the outstanding program director, was awarded during the broadcast. A local program director must first be nominated by their own board of directors. The nomination is based on 10 different categories. Ratings by their peers and state staff determine the top program directors. Those making the top of the list included: Jeff DiMiceli, Ardmore Main Street Authority; Schaun Aker, Cherokee Main Street; Heather Sumner, Okmulgee Main Street; and Chelsea McConnell, Ponca City Main Street. The award went to Schaun Aker, Cherokee Main Street

The award winners for each category are as follows:

Organization

Premier Partner: Kendall Whittier – Ziegler Art & Frame

Best Community Education/Public Awareness:Ponca City – Main Street Mixer

Best Volunteer Development Program:Newkirk – Newkirk Leadership Class

Main Street Hero: Durant – Curt Walker, Develop Durant 123

Best Creative Fundraising Effort:Ponca City – BrewFest

Promotion

Premier Special Event Under 1,000 Attendees:Ponca City – BrewFest

Premier Special Event Over 1,000 Attendees:Ada – Ada Fest

Best Retail Event: Enid – Main Street CLUE Enid – Main Street Mini Golf

Outstanding Image Promotion: Enid – Monthly Awareness Banners

Creative New Event: Ponca City – Main Street Mixer

Design

Best Placemaking Project: Enid – Giant Scrabble

Best Interior Design Project:Kendall Whittier – The Bobby Pin

Best Façade Rehabilitation Under $10,000:Altus – Southwest Crop Insurance

Best Façade Rehabilitation Over $10,000:Kendall Whittier – American Solera

Best Visual Merchandising:Sapulpa – GiGi’s Gourmet Popcorn

Best Building/Business Branding:Enid – Enid Brewing Company

Economic Vitality

Best Adaptive Reuse Project:Altus – Whirlwind Book Bar

Best Business Practices: Ada – The Diamond Shop

Best New Business: Yukon – Urban Boondocks Market

Business of the Year:Ada – McSwain Theatre; Altus – The Enchanted Door

For more information about the Oklahoma Main Street Center, please call (405) 815-6552 or visit OKcommerce.gov/mainstreet.

Images available upon request.