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MSWB wins 3 awards from state
News · April 24, 2024
Main Street West Branch on Friday received three awards covering building rehabilitation, business support, and volunteering.
The local economic development group sent representatives to Des Moines for the annual Main Street Iowa Development Awards celebration, which honors the efforts of local leaders who work tirelessly to revitalize Iowa’s downtowns and Main Street districts, according to a press release.
West Branch received the following state awards and special recognitions:
• The Serving Cafe was recognized with the Outstanding Building Rehabilitation award, which highlights the redevelopment and adaptive use of an entire building including interior and exterior design and use.
The project rehabilitated a 1972 property that sat vacant for nearly a decade. The former gas station and auto repair shop turned into the new home of The Serving Cafe, a full-service restaurant with a drive-through coffee window.
Key participants in the project include the owners, Jennifer and Todd Walker; local contractor Bryant Robertson; and Main Street West Branch, which assisted in securing funding from two grants to help bring the project to fruition.
• MSI recognized Main Street West Branch’s Promotion Committee with the Outstanding Business Support award for their Influencer Marketing Collaboration.
This award highlights Main Street program-assisted efforts to support district business retention and expansion.
Main Street West Branch invested in a marketing campaign which featured a handful of Iowa-based hyper-local social media influencers that came to West Branch to create content that showcases our community as a day-trip destination to “eat, shop and explore.”
The committee researched appropriate influencers and selected the four that best fit its goals of highlighting West Branch with slightly different angles to reach select target markets.
Each influencer’s itinerary included eating at two to three local restaurants, shopping at three to four local stores, and exploring the adjacent National Park and/or Presidential Museum.
Overall the campaign gave unique exposure to local businesses, strategically promoted the community and downtown district, and maximized advertising efforts for multiple small businesses by collaborating to create shared content.
Key participants in the project include MSWB Executive Director Jessi Simon, Promotion Committee Chair Stacy Waters, and committee members Macy Krall, Manda Frauenholz and Anna Dimmer.
• Erin Morrison-Vincent received a Volunteer Leader Award for significantly impacting the West Branch community through her leadership as a past Main Street Board Member, previous Chair of the Promotions Committee, and a loyal partner to Main Street West Branch.
As a successful entrepreneur, she generously provides MSWB access to Little Lights on the Lane for the non-profit organization’s major annual fundraiser, which has allowed the organization to double their income.
“Erin’s intentional support and collaborative spirit have been instrumental in building momentum and maintaining program support in West Branch,” Simon said.
Nicki Brick, Manda Frauenholz, Jessi Simon and Stacy Waters represented Main Street West Branch at the awards banquet.
Debi Durham, executive director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority (IFA), and Michael Wagler, Main Street Iowa state coordinator, presented the honors.
“The Main Street Iowa program stands as one of the nation’s most distinguished, as witnessed from the award-winning projects in rehabilitation, business recruitment and support, façade improvement, housing, placemaking and special events,” Durham said in a statement. “It’s evident that Main Street Iowa communities thrive under passionate leadership, achieving remarkable success.”
“Seeing the impactful efforts of local Main Street program staff, volunteers, and communities is inspiring,” Wagler said. “With significant growth in businesses jobs, and investments across communities of all sizes, these districts serve as inspiring examples of what’s achievable for Iowa’s downtowns.”
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