2025 Lt. Governor Awards for Excellence in Revitalization

Illinois Main Street Honors 2025 Lt. Governor Award Winners
Celebrating Downtown Revitalization Across Illinois

Dixon, Illinois – Illinois Main Street, a statewide coordinating program of Main Street America, announced the 2025 Lt. Governor Awards for Excellence in Revitalization during the Illinois Main Street Conference on Thursday, November 13 in Dixon, Illinois. The program recognized more than two dozen projects, organizations, and local leaders who are transforming downtowns and neighborhood business districts in communities of all sizes across the state.

Co-hosted by Joi Cuartero Austin of Main Street America and Quinn Adamowski of Landmarks Illinois, the awards celebrated excellence across the Main Street America Four Point Approach™, Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, and Promotion, as well as outstanding volunteers and board members whose leadership powers local revitalization work.

“Main Streets across Illinois are the backbone of our local economies, and these awards show just how much heart and creativity our communities bring to the table” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “From new gathering spaces that bring neighbors together to the rehabilitation of historic buildings to honor our past, these projects reflect the pride, imagination, and hard work that make our towns strong. It's clear Illinois’ future is in good hands.”

Projects recognized this year ranged from transformative physical improvements and entrepreneur and business support, including vacant space open house to youth and next-generation leadership and storytelling and destination marketing, including bilingual campaigns.

“These awards shine a light on the creativity, persistence, and collaboration happening block by block in Illinois downtowns,” said Erik Reader, Director of Illinois Main Street. “From façade rehabs and wayfinding to business bootcamps, farmers markets, and bilingual marketing campaigns, these efforts are strengthening local economies and helping more people feel at home in their Main Street districts.”

Illinois Main Street also honored outstanding volunteerism and board leadership, reminding attendees that Main Street is, above all, a people-powered movement.

“In every community we work with, the difference-makers are the volunteers and board members who show up early, stay late, and keep the long view in mind,” said Joi Cuartero Austin, Sr. Program Officer for Main Street America. “The individuals recognized this year embody that spirit and set the bar for what community leadership can look like.”

2025 Illinois Main Street Award Recipients

Design
Recognizing excellence in historic preservation, building rehabilitation, and placemaking.

• Sterling Main Street – “Team Up 2 Clean Up”
  Ongoing youth-led litter cleanups that build stewardship, pride, and a cleaner, more welcoming downtown.

• Rogers Park Business Alliance – “Intersection Art in Rogers Park”
  Decorative crosswalks and intersection treatments that calm traffic, celebrate culture, and create new neighborhood landmarks.

• Ottawa Downtown Association – “Explore Downtown Ottawa” Wayfinding & Map Program
  Branded wayfinding signs and digital maps that make it easier for residents and visitors to discover all that downtown offers.

• Dixon Chamber of Commerce & Main Street – “The Dixon: Historic Theatre”
  A comprehensive restoration of the 1922 landmark theatre that preserves history while fueling Dixon’s arts and entertainment economy.

Economic Vitality
Recognizing initiatives that grow local economies, support entrepreneurs, and strengthen downtown as a place to do business.

• Monticello Main Street – “Monticello Bootcamp” Small Business Development Program
  A decade-long training program that has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped fill downtown storefronts.

• Greater Freeport Partnership – “Downtown Unlocked”
  A vacant space open house that opened doors—literally—for prospective businesses, investors, and community members.

• Jacksonville Main Street – “Kresge Building Rehabilitation”
  A catalytic investment that restored an Art Moderne landmark, added housing, and brought new business activity downtown.

• Alton Main Street – “$1.1M Economic Impact of the Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market”
  A long-running market that generates significant new local spending, supports vendors, and draws visitors to Alton’s riverfront downtown.

Organization
Recognizing strong partnerships, volunteer engagement, and sustainable program capacity.

• Wood River Business Alliance – “WRBA Youth in Action”
  A student leadership and volunteer program that gives youth a real voice in downtown revitalization.

• Batavia MainStreet – “150% Growth in City Funding”
  A shift from “event producer” to core economic development partner that inspired a major increase in municipal support.

• Sterling Main Street – “Sauk Valley Under 40”
  A relaunched young professionals network connecting emerging leaders, employers, and civic organizations across the region.

• Action Brown County – “Mighty Mount Sterling Long-Range Strategic Plan Implementation”
  A community-wide effort that moved more than 40 projects from plan to action in just the first year.

Promotion
Recognizing events, campaigns, and storytelling that bring people downtown and strengthen local identity.

• MainStreet Libertyville – “Libertyville Farmers Market – 45 Years of Farm Fresh and Artisan Food”
  A decades-strong market that anchors downtown as a gathering place and supports local growers and makers.

• Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin – “Elgin is Home / Elgin es mi Hogar”
  A bilingual storytelling and marketing campaign that highlights Elgin as a welcoming, family-friendly downtown.

• Paxton Main Street – “Love It Like We Do”
  A destination marketing and branding campaign inviting visitors to experience Paxton’s small-town charm and businesses.

• Downtown Downers Grove – “Loyal to Local”
  A summer loyalty campaign that rewards local spending and keeps dollars circulating with independent businesses.

Individual & Leadership Awards

Outstanding Volunteers

• Lance Ferguson, Greater Freeport Partnership

• Reagan Run Committee, Dixon Chamber of Commerce & Main Street

• Kerri Liu, Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin

Volunteer of the Year

• Mt. Sterling Strategic Plan Committee, Action Brown County

Outstanding Board Members

• Steve Yates, Wood River Business Alliance

• Amy Larson, Batavia MainStreet

• Susan Kesselman, Monticello Main Street

• Larry Feiner, Greater Freeport Partnership

• Britni Dvorak, Dixon Chamber of Commerce & Main Street

Board Member of the Year

• Mark Novelli, Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin

About Illinois Main Street

Illinois Main Street is a statewide coordinating program of Main Street America that supports local communities in revitalizing downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Through training, technical assistance, and a proven framework, Illinois Main Street helps communities leverage their unique heritage, build strong local economies, and create vibrant, inclusive places for everyone. Learn more at www.ilmainstreet.org.

About Main Street America

Main Street America leads a nationwide movement committed to strengthening communities through place-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Since its founding, Main Street America programs have generated billions in reinvestment and supported hundreds of thousands of businesses. Learn more at www.mainstreet.org.

About Landmarks Illinois

Landmarks Illinois is a statewide historic preservation nonprofit organization serving as the voice for people saving places in Illinois. The organization provides financial and technical resources, practical assistance, and advocacy tools to help people protect and reuse historic resources. Learn more at www.landmarks.org.