Oakland County communities honored at gala celebration

Farmington and its Downtown Development Authority (DDA) took home five honors Friday, June 13, at the Main Street Oakland County awards celebration at the Royal Oak Music Theater. Downtown development groups from Ferndale, Holly, Pontiac and Rochester each picked up three awards during the event, which honors members of the Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) program for their community development efforts. Other Main Street-member communities recognized were Clawson, Franklin, Highland Township, Lake Orion, Ortonville, and Oxford. "Main Street Oakland County continues to be a model for other Main Street programs across the country," County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "I applaud these communities and the individual winners for the contributions they make to create desirable and viable downtowns." More than 200 people attended the event, which was sponsored by ITC, the Michigan Downtown Association, and Future Help Designs. MSOC created the awards program in 2008. It recognizes excellence in downtown revitalization in five categories: Special, MSOC Spirit, Organization, Promotion, Design, and Business Improvement. Since 2001, MSOC downtowns have generated nearly $650 million in new public and private investment, created 6,671 new jobs and established 870 new businesses. Lon Bone, vice president of Genisys Credit Union and a member of the MSOC board, was honored with the MSOC Spirit Award. Highland Township Supervisor Rick Hamill was honored for outstanding leadership and integrity; and Clawson DDA member Billy Kelly and Pontiac Downtown Business Association Main Street member Glen Konopaskie were named outstanding board members of the year. The winners were: Organization � Outstanding Public & Private Partnership: Lake Orion DDA, Whiskey's Public Parking Lot. � Outstanding Fundraising Project: Farmington DDA, Riley Park Ice Rink Capital Campaign. � Outstanding Public Relations Effort: Ferndale DDA, How the West was One. � Outstanding Volunteer of the Year: (two winners) Farmington DDA, Melissa Andrade; Ortonville DDA, Toni Mariucci. � Outstanding Board Member of the Year: (two winners) Clawson DDA, Billy Kelly; Pontiac Downtown Business Association Main Street, Glen Konopaskie. Promotion � Outstanding Art Event: Rochester DDA, Rochester Posed. � Outstanding Retail Event: Ortonville DDA, Christmas Windows. � Outstanding Special Event: Pontiac, Holiday Extravaganza. Design � Outstanding Façade and Building Rehabilitation: Clawson, Mojave Cantina. Business Improvement � Outstanding Business Development Incentive Program: Farmington DDA, Façade Incentive Program The Groves. � Outstanding Business Retention and Expansion: Ferndale DDA. � Outstanding Business Recruitment: Farmington, Los Tres Amigos. � Outstanding Business of the Year: Ferndale, Modern Natural Baby. Special awards � Guts and Determination: Main Street Franklin Board of Directors. � Outstanding Charity Event: City Lights Pontiac DBA Main Street. � Outstanding Promotion of the Arts: Life Aquatic Mural Main Street Franklin Design Committee and MALTS "aka" Brown Bag in Detroit. � Outstanding Investment: Holly, McDonalds; Oxford, William's Art Glass Studio, Inc. � Outstanding Media Partner: Cavalier Pictures, Andy Vance and Peter Watt. � Outstanding Perseverance & Persistence: Holly DDA. � Making the Right Decision: Holly DDA and the Village of Holly: "The Gray Lady." � Outstanding Aggressive Business & Events Participation: Farmington, Off the Beaten Path Book & Emporium. � Outstanding Leadership & Integrity: Highland Township Rick Hamill. � Most Unique & Creative Fundraising Project: Highland DDA, Pickle Sales. � Best Event to Increase Business Sales and Visitors: Rochester DDA, Big Bright Light Show. � Outstanding Business outreach Materials: Clawson DDA. � 10 Years MSOC Advisory Board Thank You: Paul Zelenak. � MSOC Sponsor of the Year: ITC Holdings. � Technical Assistance Sponsor and Partner: Future Help Design, Christian Marcillo. � First MSOC Downtown to use "Kickstarter" for Fundraising: Rochester DDA. � Main Street Oakland County Spirit Award: Lon Bone, MSOC Advisory Board. Main Street is a trademarked program of the National Main Street Center in Chicago. Clawson, Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Highland, Holly, Lake Orion, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac and Rochester are MSOC communities. Birmingham, Clarkston, Lathrup Village, Leonard, Oak Park, Walled Lake, Waterford and Wixom are communities in the associate level program. Oakland County is the first county in the United States to operate a full-service county-wide Main Street program for the 32 distinct, historic downtowns in Oakland County. Published: Wed, Jul 02, 2014

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