CT Main Street Initiatives Promote Economic Development

Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) has announced recipients of its 2012 Awards of Excellence. The winning entries represent initiatives and organizations from Hartford, Middletown, New London, Simsbury, Suffield, Waterbury and Willimantic. The Connecticut Main Street Awards annually celebrate and communicate the most successful and innovative efforts in Main Street revitalization in Connecticut. Submissions were judged on criteria which included innovation, replication, representation and partnerships utilized, and outcome. Since the Connecticut Main Street program began in 1995, Designated Main Street programs have generated over $994 million in public and private reinvestment in their downtowns. Over the same time, 4,121 net new businesses have opened and 2,475 net new jobs have been created. For every $1 spent on a local Main Street program, $73.13 has been reinvested in CT Main Street designated downtowns, making the Main Street initiative one of the most successful economic development programs in the country.

Main Street Partnership

Award of Excellence to Main Street Waterbury & The Republican-American for Celebrating Downtown - a special supplement of the Sunday Republican

Community Investment

Award of Excellence to Upper Albany Main Street, Hartford Public Library for the Hartford Public Library-Upper Albany Branch

Site Design by Sevigny Architects

Community Consensus-Building

Award of Excellence to: Main Street Waterbury, Waterbury Police Department for Downtown Business Watch

Master Planning Main Street

Award of Excellence to: Town of Simsbury for Simsbury Town Center Code

Submitted by Simsbury Main Street Partnership

Historic Preservation

Award of Excellence to: New London Main Street, New London Landmarks, City Center District, City of New London, Greg Wies & Gardner Architects, and Wilbur Smith Associates for The New London Parade Plaza Redesign

Beautification