Main Street Enid received three awards at the 30th annual Oklahoma Main Street award banquet Tuesday night.
Main Street Enid won awards for:
• Premier Partner, Enid Regional Development Alliance.
• Best Creative Fundraising Effort, History Makers Campaign.
• Outstanding Image Promotion, pedestrian kiosks.
ERDA was honored for its work on a variety of projects for Main Street Enid, director Kelly Tompkins said.
“Recently, ERDA has mostly coordinated Phase I of the wayfinding signage system, and four pedestrian kiosks with business directories,” Tompkins said. “They are a beautiful way to guide visitors and residents to our shopping, dining, arts and entertainment locations.”
ERDA also announced in 2018 a strategy called Billion by 2025, with a goal of having $1 billion in retail sales annually by 2025.
“Many priorities are centered around downtown Enid, which includes more nightlife options, more signature events, walkability and downtown upper floor living,” Tompkins said.
ERDA also donated $5,000 toward Main Street’s History Maker Campaign, which funds facade renovation grants. The $5,000 was leveraged as matching donations and was matched by Edward Jones, which resulted in $15,325 from a three-month campaign.
“This is allowing us to continue our ongoing paint, awning and facade grants, as well as offer a $10,000 competitive grant to incentivize a large facade renovation, which will visually impact our district and increase property values,” Tompkins said.
The History Makers Campaign encourages “historically accurate improvements to commercial facade within our district boundaries,” Tompkins said.
“Our grant program helps us help building owners restore the original beauty of their buildings,” Tompkins said. “Opening boarded-up windows adds new life, awnings add shade for increased walkability, and making historically appropriate facade renovations helps preserve the historic integrity.”
The pedestrian kiosks are part of the citywide wayfinding system, which includes entryway signs, directional signage and four pedestrian kiosk directories.
The main structure of the kiosks, designed by Corbin Design from Traverse City, Mich., is cohesive with all of the wayfinding signs. The updatable panels on each side were designed by Kevin Friesen, of Friesen Design in Enid.
“The pedestrian kiosks were placed to be seen by the most pedestrians and visitors, such as Leonardo’s Children’s Museum, the corner of The Bike Shop, the corner of Enid Brewing Co., which will be convenient to the future hotel, and at David Allen Memorial Ballpark,” Tompkins said. “These directories lead residents and visitors to our delicious restaurants, unique shopping and abundance of arts and entertainment, encouraging them to walk to more locations and support more local businesses.”
In addition, Taylor Skouby was recognized at the banquet as Main Street Enid’s Board Member of the Year.
She has been a member of the board since September 2016, serving a president 2017-18.
“Taylor has recruited new partners for Main Street Enid, new sponsors for Christmas, and new volunteers for events,” Tompkins said. “She advocates for Main Street and encourages others to get involved. … Taylor believes in being part of the community, making connections and making a difference.”
The awards banquet was held at Embassy Suites Downtown Medical Center Hotel in Oklahoma City.
“Over the past 34 years more than $1.7 billion has been invested, both privately and publicly, in Main Street commercial districts,” said Brent Kisling, executive director of Oklahoma Department of Commerce, which oversees the Oklahoma Main Street Center. Kisling is a former director of ERDA. “In addition, nearly 1.5 million volunteer hours have been donated to local programs. Business recruiters take into consideration a thriving commercial core when making decisions on where to move their businesses. Main Street is making a difference for the state of Oklahoma.“
Story provided by Enid News & Eagle