[MainstreetTowns] The WAIT is over! Top award finalists announced

[Maci Graves]

Yes, congratulations to everyone! I know we all work so hard to put together these nominations and everyone has so many amazing initiatives, projects, and events in their communities!! 😊

Maci Graves

From: MainstreetTowns <mainstreettowns-bounces at lists.onenet.net> On Behalf Of Schaun Aker
Sent: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 11:26 AM
To: Kelli Yadon <Kelli.Yadon at okcommerce.gov>; mainstreettowns at lists.onenet.net
Subject: Re: [MainstreetTowns] The WAIT is over! Top award finalists announced

Congratulations everyone!

From: MainstreetTowns <mainstreettowns-bounces at lists.onenet.net<mailto:mainstreettowns-bounces at lists.onenet.net>> On Behalf Of Kelli Yadon
Sent: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 11:19 AM
To: mainstreettowns at lists.onenet.net<mailto:mainstreettowns at lists.onenet.net>
Subject: [MainstreetTowns] The WAIT is over! Top award finalists announced

Good morning!  The wait is over!
Here is the press release announcing the finalists of our 24 award categories!  It will be sent out to the statewide media hopefully this week! We had more than 175 competitive entries (199 total entries counting board members of the year) so you all should be commended for doing the work to showcase your communities and their events, projects and people!

Congratulations to all the finalists!

----
Contact: Buffy Skee
Oklahoma Main Street Center
Phone: (405) 815-6552
Email: Buffy.Skee at OKcommerce.gov<mailto:Buffy.Skee at OKcommerce.gov>

For Immediate Release

Oklahoma Main Street Center Announces Award Finalists

(Oklahoma City, Okla.) – The Oklahoma Main Street Center, a division within the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, announced today the finalists for the program’s annual statewide awards competition. All finalists will be recognized, and the winners announced, during the 35th annual Main Street Awards Banquet on Tuesday, September 30, in Oklahoma City.

Programs across the state competed in 24 competitive award categories representing the “four points” of the Main Street Approach of Organization, Promotion, Economic Vitality and Design. Panels of outside judges reviewed more than 170 total entries and determined the winners.

Outstanding board members, the Watonga Bob Shoemaker Award (local program director of the year) and the Local Program of the Year will also be recognized and announced the night of the banquet.

“These awards recognize the outstanding achievements of Main Street programs, local businesses, volunteers, and community leaders who are working every day to breathe new life into Oklahoma’s historic commercial districts,” said Buffy Skee, director of the Oklahoma Main Street Center. “Each nomination showcases how local efforts are generating meaningful economic impact through business growth, job creation, and revitalization. We recognize the finalists who have emerged from a highly competitive group, and we commend their dedication to preserving the character and vitality of their communities while building for the future.”

The award finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

ORGANIZATION:
Premier Partner
Altus – Full Scope Marketing
Enid – Leadership Greater Enid Class XXXII
Stockyards City – First United Bank

Best Main Street Community Education Campaign
Altus – Rediscover Downtown Altus Videos
Enid – Downtown Teen Program
Tahlequah – Experience Downtown Tahlequah Walking Tour

Outstanding Community Engagement Effort
Ardmore – Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony
Enid – Downtown Tree Project with Whiterock Resources
Ponca City – Goblins on Grand

Main Street Hero
Sapulpa – Dave Bennett
Tahlequah – Dillin Springwater
Yukon – Stephanie Hale

Best Creative Fundraising Effort
Enid – History Maker Campaign
Tulsa Rt 66 – East Meets West: Stetsons & Stilettos
Yukon – Downtown Block Party/Cheeseburger in Paradise

Outstanding Public Official
Tahlequah – Danny Perry
Tulsa Rt 66 – Jeannie Cue
Wilburton – Loran Mayes

PROMOTION:
Premier Special Event Under 1,000 Attendees
Enid – Main Street Enid’s 30th Anniversary Bash
Perry – Hometown Harmony
Wilburton – Solar Eclipse Kick Off Party

Premier Special Event Over 1,000 Attendees
Ponca City – Goblins on Grand
Pryor – 2024 Bluegrass & Chili Festival
Woodward – Giant Pumpkin Drop

Best Main Street Retail Event
Ada – The Gathering on Main
Stockyards City – Back Number Scavenger Hunt
Yukon – Shop Small Scratchers

Outstanding Image Promotion
Ponca City – Main Street Branding Campaign
Tahlequah – Red Fern Roots: Celebrating 50 Years of the Film’s Legacy
Tulsa Global – We are CommUNITY

Creative New Event
Altus – Shrimp Boil Block Party
Enid – Flashback First Friday: Downtown Teens Car Show
Sapulpa – Cinco De Mayo

DESIGN:
Best Placemaking Project
Ada – Streetscape: A First Impression of Main
Altus – Downtown Park Project
Sapulpa – Alley Renovation Project

Best Interior Design Project Under $25,000
Altus – Petal Pushers
Perry – Angels Fitness Studio
Yukon – Knight’s Nook

Best Interior Design Project Over $25,000
Ponca City – Merrick’s Custom Leather Handbags & Boutique
Pryor – Ober & Littlefield CPA
Sapulpa – James Calley Brewing Co.

Best Façade Rehabilitation Under $25,000
Altus – White’s Auto
Perry – Angels Fitness Studio
Sapulpa – Route 66 Engineering

Best Façade Rehabilitation Over $25,000
Newkirk – Cherokee Strip Credit Union
Sapulpa – James Calley Brewing Co.
Woodward – Woodward County Courthouse

Best Visual Merchandising
Ada – EVER Boutique
Ponca City – Merrick’s Custom Leather Handbags & Boutique
Sapulpa – Frilly Flamingo

Best Building/Business Branding
Altus – Jazzie Rose
Durant – Corner Crust
Ponca City – Aesthetic State of Mind

ECONOMIC VITALITY:
Best Adaptive Reuse Project Under $25,000
Perry – Oklahoma Boot Company
Woodward – Josie Adams Cultural Centre

Best Adaptive Reuse Project Over $25,000
Altus – Shortgrass Community Health Center
Enid – Gaslight Theatre Auditorium
Sapulpa – James Calley Brewing Co.

Outstanding Entrepreneurial Endeavor
Altus – Full Scope Marketing
Muskogee – Watson’s Chophouse on 3rd
Tahlequah – Cherokee Nation Innovation Hub

Outstanding Business Expansion
Cherokee – BOHO Flamingo
Ponca City – A+ Printing
Yukon – Vacca Coffeehouse & Territory Creamery

Best New Business
Altus – Petal Pushers
Wilburton – Paxson’s Pop Creamery
Yukon – Vladislava’s Czech Bakery & Café

Business of the Year
Enid – Leonardo’s Children’s Museum
Ponca City – Poncan Theatre
Tahlequah – Kroner & Baer

The dinner and program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the banquet will go on sale Monday, August 11 at www.okmsf.org/awards-banquet<http://www.okmsf.org/awards-banquet> and will be available to purchase until September 12.


  *   End    -


Kelli Yadon | Program Coordinator
Oklahoma Main Street Center | Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Kelli.Yadon at okcommerce.gov<mailto:Kelli.Yadon at okcommerce.gov>
C: 405.778.9375
OKcommerce.gov
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