Emporia Main Street has received national recognition for its forward-thinking and unyielding efforts to continue moving the local economy forward despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Street has been named as one of the six recipients of the National Main Street Forward Award, presented by Main Street America, a branch of the National Main Street Center. The Forward Awards recognize the best examples of comprehensive and commercial revitalization on an annual basis. This year, the awards recognize communities that “have shown exemplary recovery and resilience efforts amid the multiple crises of 2020.”
Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods tells KVOE News that Main Street is proud of the work it has done over the past year. He says it is humbling to know those efforts are being recognized far beyond just the local community.
Woods says this is not an award just for Main Street.
Woods went on to say that the award is not a “finish line” but rather a motivator to keep pushing forward.
Over the past year, Main Street has worked to help support the local economy and business sector by providing access to relief funding, small business support, safe community activities and much more.
Main Street America President and CEO Patrice Frey says in a news release, “It comes as no surprise that this veteran Main Street group has served as an example for many other communities in Kansas.”
