CONTACT: Joe Jennison, (319) 210-9935 or [email protected]
MOUNT VERNON – Main Street America has announced that the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG), a Main Street Iowa organization, is a 2024 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) Semifinalist.
This prestigious award is the nation’s top award recognizing communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization. A jury of professionals and leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic reservation convened to review a nationwide pool of applicants. After thoughtful deliberation, the jury unanimously selected eight semifinalists that demonstrate exemplary use of the Main Street Approach™ to lead community-based transformation strategies in their downtowns.
The 2024 GAMSA Semifinalists are:
Downtown Camas Association – Camas, Washington
Denison Main Street – Denison, Texas
Downtown Lansing, Inc. – Lansing, Michigan
NewTown Macon – Macon, Georgia
Madison Main Street Program – Madison, Indiana
Monroeville Main Street – Monroeville, Alabama
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group – Mount Vernon, Iowa
Swiss Bear, Inc. – New Bern, North Carolina
“The Great American Main Street Award is the highest honor that we grant to organizations within our network,” said Matt Wagner, Chief Program Officer at Main Street America. “We are elated to recognize the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG) and seven peer organizations as 2024 GAMSA Semifinalists for their incredible accomplishments in transforming their downtowns through innovative programs strategically designed to preserve their unique heritage, foster economic vitality, and create a welcoming atmosphere.”
From neighborhood commercial corridors within larger cities to small towns with traditional downtowns, the 2024 GAMSA Semifinalists represent the diversity of the Main Street America network and the power of the Main Street Approach™. Semifinalists have generated more than $1.48 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 881 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 3,827 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 2,164 historic buildings, and leveraged 306,986 volunteer hours.
“We are delighted to know that Mount Vernon has been recognized for their hard work and dedication to the Main Street revitalization process,” said Lisa White, Chair of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG) and Associate Director of Development at Cornell College. “On behalf of the board of directors, staff and volunteers, we are thrilled to be considered one of the best in the country and look forward to sharing the spotlight with these seven other stellar programs at the National Conference in May.”
The 2024 Great American Main Street Award winners will be announced at the opening plenary of the 2024 Main Street Now Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 6, 2024.
More information about CDG is available at www.visitmvl.com
About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group exists to improve the social and economic well-being of Mount Vernon and Lisbon by capitalizing on their unique identity, assets and character. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008 and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.
About Main Street
The Main Street Approach is a copyrighted process of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Program has been used in Iowa since 1986 with a total of 56 communities having participated. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community on March 4, 2008, by the State of Iowa, after submitting a comprehensive application and presenting to a select board of reviewers.
