DGI reaps five Awards of Excellence from Main Street Alabama

Greg Bailey, Gadsden Times
·3 min read

Downtown Gadsden Inc. reaped five honors on Aug. 17 at Main Street Alabama’s 10th annual Awards of Excellence Banquet at Stovehouse in Huntsville.

The event spotlighted people and projects that had positive impacts in the communities that are part of Main Street Alabama’s network.

From Gadsden, “An Evening at the Pitman” was cited for Excellence in Fundraising; “Back to School Flamingle” for Excellence in Promotion; and the Etowah County Board of Education for Excellence in Adaptive Reuse.

Eric Wright was chosen Gadsden's "Main Street Hero" at Main Street Alabama’s 10th annual Awards of Excellence Banquet Aug. 17 at Stovehouse in Huntsville. 
Eric Wright was chosen Gadsden's "Main Street Hero" at Main Street Alabama’s 10th annual Awards of Excellence Banquet Aug. 17 at Stovehouse in Huntsville.

The city was cited for Excellence in Reinvestment for the $20 million in private investment that has been put into the downtown area since DGI began submitting information to Main Street Alabama roughly a decade ago.

Also, Eric T. Wright was honored as Gadsden’s “Main Street Hero” for his contributions to the program at the Toast to Heroes Reception before the banquet.

“We are proud of the continued growth of our downtown area and the recognition that comes from the awards that we received at the conference.” DGI Director Kay Moore said. “We are grateful to our merchants, restaurants and professional businesses for working together to continue the growth.

“We realize that the support of our loyal customers, both local and those who travel to support us, are the reason for our success, and we thank you,” Moore said. “We look forward to continuing to be the place you choose to spend your time when shopping, dining and enjoying the arts.”

“An Evening with the Pitman” was a two-concert fundraiser for DGI and the Pitman Theatre.

Pictured with the Main Street Alabama Award of Excellence for Excellence in Reinvestment, recognizing $20 million in private investment in downtown Gadsden in the last decade, are Downtown Gadsden Inc. board member Eric Wright, Director Kay Moore, board member Catherine Martin and board President Shane Ellison.
Pictured with the Main Street Alabama Award of Excellence for Excellence in Reinvestment, recognizing $20 million in private investment in downtown Gadsden in the last decade, are Downtown Gadsden Inc. board member Eric Wright, Director Kay Moore, board member Catherine Martin and board President Shane Ellison.

The concerts, arranged by downtown property owner Steve Gilbert, featured guitarist/singer Ana Popovic and Damon Johnson, a guitarist with roots in DeKalb County who has played with Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy and Lynyrd Skynyrd. They cleared $22,000, $12,000 of which was reinvested in the Pitman for new flooring for its expanded stage and other improvements.

“Back to School Flamingle” saw DGI supply the needed, colorful decorations, and downtown merchants scheduling extended hours to draw shoppers and diners.

The Etowah County Board of Education moved on Oct. 18, 2022, into the building at Fourth and Broad streets that had housed Colonial and BB&T banks for a decade, consolidating system employs who previously were located at two sites.

According to DGI, the building now houses 60 employees, compared to the eight who worked at BB&T before it relocated, who are shopping and dining downtown.

Wright has lived in Gadsden since 2006. He’s been employed by The Gadsden Times, the City of Gadsden and as coordinator of the Etowah County Extension Office, and now works at the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission.

He’s been a member of DGI’s board since 2020, volunteers at First Friday and elsewhere and has served on committees for the organization and was instrumental in the search for an arborist to determine the health and future of trees in the downtown district.

Main Street Alabama, according to a news release announcing the awards, is a nonprofit organization that focuses on bringing jobs, dollars and people to Alabama’s historic communities, and stresses economic development to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

Its designated programs are Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Atmore, Birmingham’s Historic 4th Ave Business District, Birmingham’s Woodlawn District, Calera, Centreville, Columbiana, Decatur, Demopolis, Elba, Enterprise, Eufaula, Florence, Foley, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Heflin, Jasper, LaFayette, Leeds, Marion, Monroeville, Montevallo, Opelika, Oxford, Scottsboro, South Huntsville, Russellville, Talladega and Wetumpka.

Its Network Programs are Arab, Ashford, Attalla, Boaz, Camden, Ensley, Fairhope, Five Points South-Birmingham, Geneva, Georgiana, Guin, Haleyville, Hartselle, Headland, Irondale, Jacksonville, Lanett, Lineville, Livingston, Luverne, Madison, Ozark, Phenix City, Piedmont, Prattville, Roanoke, Selma, Springville, Sylacauga, Tarrant, Thomasville, Thorsby, Tuskegee and York.

Visit www.mainstreetalabama.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Downtown Gadsden Inc. reaps Main Street Alabama honors