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Downtown Colorado, Inc., is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence! Since 2003, the Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence have recognized outstanding projects and people in Colorado that demostrate creativity in the face of challenges, unlikely and enduring partnerships, and dedication to community to further downtown initiatives.

"During the 2020 pandemic, the Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence provide a needed chance to remember the champions and innovators who are keeping our commercial districts and small businesses alive," said Katherine Correll, executive director of Downtown Colorado, Inc. "The Governor’s Awards celebrate the amazing projects and people that are committed to economic and community revitalization in Colorado."

The 2020 Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence winners are: 

Best of partnership

• Ready to Work Program in the City of Boulder

• Durango Renewal Partnership from the City of Durango

Partnership for events

• Englewood Block Party from the City of Englewood

• 2019 SOCO Tourism Summit as presented by the Cities of La Junta, Walsenburg,        and Trinidad

Best of place:

• Greeley Art Alley from the City of Greeley

• Glenwood Springs 7th Street Enhancement Project from the City of Glenwood Springs

Best of planning:

• Loveland Downtown Design Standards from the City of Loveland

• Alamosa Downtown Design Plan from the City of Alamosa 

Projects with adaptation:

• Poudre Garage in the City of Fort Collins

• The Windsor Mill from the Town of Windsor

Projects with new Building:

• The Foundry in the City of Loveland

Downtowner of the Year
The Vicki Mattox Downtowner of the Year Awards recognize individuals who have shown exemplary commitment to their local downtown and community. Nominees encourage ongoing collaboration and teamwork benefitting the community.

Steve Art, City of Wheat Ridge — Art is the economic development manager for the City of Wheat Ridge and the executive director of the city's Urban Renewal Authority. He promotes intelligent growth for the community while promoting the values of Wheat Ridge and has been with the city for over eight years. Art has helped Wheat Ridge to see unprecedented City growth with the development of new housing options, shopping centers, and the creation of a new downtown along 38^th Avenue. Art has served as DCl's board president for three years and has helped shape a stronger and more sustainable organization.

Marian Hollingsworth, Town of Lake City — Hollingsworth has been a driving factor in the Lake City Main Street Program, Lake City DIRT, which continues to transform Lake City. In their remote setting, with a limited population, they have been able to find success by following and implementing the Main Street approach. Hollingsworth is the heart of Lake City DIRT and epitomizes what a Main Street volunteer and board member should do.

Rick Kron, City of Louisville — Kron has served on the DCI Board of Directors for over 15 years. He also worked for Spencer Fane and helped residents, landowners, and developers organize, manage, and finance special districts, business improvement districts, and intergovernmental authorities so they can build, maintain and operate public facilities, programs, and services. Rick is the author of DCl's "The Amazing Colorado BID (Business Improvement District) Board Member Manual," which was released on the Downtown Colorado, Inc. website in mid-June 2015, and the Astounding Downtown Development Authority Board Manual! Kron has worked with too many Colorado communities to name. His home downtown is in Louisville where he has diligently served on the downtown association board and assisted, with some of the impressive events and innovations such as the Louisville Street Fair.

Judy Ann Files, City of Montrose — Due to Files’s advocacy and drive, downtown Montrose looks and feels like a different place than it did prior to her service. Files has supported two major building rehabilitations, upgrades to downtown's Centennial Plaza, multiple downtown events, and active engagement with business owners. She specifically advocated for putting the historic Hartman family clock back on display and personally worked with the family and DART to reactivate the historic relic into downtown from where it had been sitting in storage.

Each year the Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence serve as a highlight for DCl's IN THE GAME Vibrant Downtown Event, an annual conference for downtown champions, resources, and stewards. 

Nominations for the 2021 Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence are now open. 

The nomination fee is $100 and all nominations need to be submitted with one to five photos by Friday, Feb. 25, 2021 at 5 p.m using the Person - Vicki Mattox Downtowner of the Year form and/or the 2021 Governor's Awards Nomination form.

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