Main Streets from across the state gathered in El Dorado this week for the annual Main Street Symposium.
The week has been filled with workshops, tours and a lot of good information. Then, Thursday evening El Dorado hosted the Kansas Main Street Awards Banquet and Governor’s Awards of Excellence.
Mayor Tom McKibban welcomed the group.
“Main Streets are successful because of partnerships (between organizations) and partnerships between business people,” McKibban said. “I believe that’s why El Dorado Main Street has been successful. It’s ever changing and ever growing.”
There are 25 Kansas Main Street programs in Kansas, with two more being added that evening.
Secretary of Commerce David Kerr also was on hand to welcome everyone.
“The symposium is a great event to come together and share your ideas for promotion of communities and historic downtowns,” he said. “I know you will leave with new ideas.
“As I look around, I can’t imagine a group of people who have more pride and dedication in what they do. In starts in the cities and that builds up the regions. That becomes what we are as a state.”
With the theme “Stars on Main Street,” the evening was filled with a variety of awards for their “stars.”
Kerr presented the awards.
“You are the stars and you make it happen,” he told the group.
He also said it was not hard to measure the economic impact they have on the state with the new jobs they have created and investments made.
“Through the communities there were 586,650 volunteer hours last year,” he said, pointing out that equaled 6 1/2 years of volunteer work in just one year. “This is a pretty rewarding process to be involved with.”
He said they get to see the fruits of their labor right in their hometowns.
“When we leave here tonight, I ask you to continue to do what you are doing,” Kerr said.
Jeanne Stinson, state coordinator, Kansas Main Street Dinner, echoed his sentiments.
“We are here to celebrate special programs,” she said, adding that she too hopes to inspire them to go home from there and continue their efforts.
El Dorado Main Street received one award this year in design and economic restructuring for the interior renovation/business climate improvement at District 142.
Main Street Director Andrea Coleman and one of the developers of District 142, David Wernli, accepted the award.
District 142 houses several businesses, including Pink Saloon, Scooters and Satchell Creek Steaks.
“There’s several building owners working on this,” Wernli said.
He is joined in the effort by Tad Fugat, Ed Powell, TD O’Connell and Rex Reynolds.
“It’s still a work in progress,” Wernli said.
They are still working on the second floor and hope to create an environment where businesses can play off of each other.
“It’s a real honor to get this award from the state,” he said.
El Dorado, Kan. —
