Wyoming Business Council news
Board reviews several grants requests, hears economic development updates
by Wyoming Business Council
June 9, 2013
Two Wyoming communities were recognized recently for their innovation and leadership in revitalizing local downtowns.
Rock Springs, Wyoming City Councilor Glennise Wendorf received the 2013 Wyoming Main Street Leadership Award, and the Main Street Pinedale program received the 2013 Wyoming Main Street Innovation Award in the Certified and Affiliate community categories, respectively.
Wendorf was selected because of her exemplary commitment to the Rock Springs Urban Renewal Association/Main Street program. As a city council president and the council liaison to the Main Street program, Wendorf has made every meeting and not only attends program functions, but also actively participates in planning, organizing, and implementing Main Street events.
"Our Main Street award recipients this year were most deserving," said Wyoming Rural Development Council and Wyoming Main Street program executive director Mary Randolph. "Glenisse has been an invaluable volunteer for the Rock Springs URA/Main Street and it takes people like her make a successful Main Street program."
Jeff Pedersen, manager of the Rock Springs URA/Main Street program, reiterated Randolph’s endorsement of Wendorf: "Rock Springs and the URA/Main Street program could not have accomplished what we have without the leadership, dedication, compassion, and passion of Glennise Wendorf."
"I was just so very surprised," said Wendorf. "I wish I could share this with the other volunteers. I’m part of a very good team and I am just one of several people who volunteer their time for our community."
The Main Street Innovation Award is presented to local programs that demonstrate excellence, originality, and effectiveness.
Pinedale received the 2013 Wyoming Main Street Innovation Award for Affiliate Main Street community.
"Pinedale is a shining star in our program," said Randolph. "They are doing great things for downtown Pinedale not only in quantity, but in quality."
The Main Street Pinedale program was selected due to the vision and leadership the program has shown in recent revitalization efforts to make the city center more appealing and to attractive to visitors and locals alike.
"Well, I was quite astounded, but pleasantly astounded," said Main Street Pinedale program manager Kate Dahl. "We’re a young program, only three years old, so it was very exciting and gratifying to be recognized so early on."
Projects including the completion of new marketing material for the self-guided Historic Downtown Pinedale Walking Tour, installing new wayfinding signs, trash cans, benches and updated landscaping downtown set Pinedale apart in the innovation award category.
"Our Wyoming Main Street programs are successful because of the many dedicated volunteers that give their time, expertise and skills to make their downtowns once again the heart and soul of the community," said Randolph. "The efforts of these communities were recognized this year, but all our Main Street communities should be commended for the work they do as well."
The Wyoming Main Street program was established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2004. Main Street is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation emphasizing a four-point approach to revitalization: economic restructuring, design, organization and promotion. For more information visit: www.wyomingmainstreet.org.
The mission of the Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. The Business Council, a state government agency, concentrates its efforts on providing assistance for existing Wyoming companies and start-ups, helping communities meet their development and diversification needs, and recruiting new firms and industries targeted to complement the state’s assets. For more information, please visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.
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