Twenty-five thousand dollars – that’s the cash prize one community in the WNIJ listening area could win in a national main street contest.
Sterling is one of three Illinois communities nominated as a quarterfinalist for the “America’s Main Streets” competition. That’s hosted by the small-business and “buy local” movement Independent We Stand.
The contest selects one Main Street in the country that best meets local needs and opportunities in categories like Organization, Design, Economic Vitality and Promotion. The contest winner gets $25,000, along with other prizes.
Janna Groharing is the executive director for Sterling Main Street. She says she was stunned when she was notified of Sterling making the top 25.
“The fact that we were able to make the top 25 just through community support that we’ve been able to rally, I think that says a lot about people thinking that, you know, our downtown has value, they’re proud of it and they’d love to see more happen,” Groharing said.
Groharing says the major cash prize would help benefit long-term projects and events in the town.
“We’ve been talking about, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be great to get banners on the light posts throughout the downtown,’” Groharing said. “We’ve been eyeing these downtown directories, kind of like if you’re in a shopping mall, you’ve got a decorative directory that shows you where all the stores are and upcoming events… [we’re] looking at adding those throughout our downtown.”
Even if Sterling didn’t win the competition, Groharing says those improvements would probably still happen; it just might take a little bit longer to implement.
Voting for semifinalists runs through May 29. The winner of the contest will be announced at the beginning of next month.