Cape Girardeau has been selected as a semi-finalist for the 2015 Great American Main Street Award. According to a press release, the National Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive, preservation-based commercial district revitalization each year.
Cape Girardeau is one of ten Nationally Accredited Main Street communities from across the nation to be recognized as a semi-finalist.
The communities are judged by levels of active involvement by both public and private sectors, development and employment of model partnerships, overall strength of the main street in creating an exciting place to live, work, play and visit, success of applying the Four Point Approach in the community and commitment to historic preservation.
According to Old Town Cape Executive Director, Marla Mills, Cape Girardeau ranks high in all of the selection criteria. Mills believes there is a chance Cape Girardeau has what it takes to be recognized for one of the awards.
“I do think that with everything that’s happened in our downtown over the past few years, that we have an excellent chance of being named one of the award winners, so I’m excited about that and think it’s entirely possible for us to be named an award winner this year,” Mills said.
The award will be great exposure for the city of Cape Girardeau for years to come, and the city has already gained exposure by simply being nominated as an exciting place to live, work, play and visit. As stated in a press release, recognition from professionals in these areas is an exemplary testament to the work being completed in the district.
“This is just a result of the community really pulling together and caring about the history of our community and the downtown as a whole,” Mills said. “I’m proud of what we’ve done but I’m also extremely proud of what the community has contributed towards that.”
The announcement of the 2015 finalists will be made at the National Main Street Conference in March.