Downtown Crystal Lake wins state Main Street honor

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn honored Downtown Crystal Lake with the Creative Fundraising Campaign award for the Great Ball Race Raffle at the closing banquet of the 14th annual Illinois Main Street Conference, held recently in the David S. Palmer Arena in downstate Danville.

"These awards recognize the very best work by Illinois towns and cities to promote economic growth, tourism, historic preservation, and civic democracy in their downtown business districts," Quinn said. "I am proud to salute these members of the Illinois Main Street Program for their efforts, and I know the good example they set will benefit communities throughout the Land of Lincoln."

At the presentation ceremony for the 2007 Lieutenant Governor's Awards for Excellence in Downtown Revitalization, Downtown Crystal Lake received the award for adding the Great Big Ball Race -- a four-person, uphill footrace featuring local celebrities dressed in large colored-ball costumes -- as an element to spice up the Great Ball Race Raffle. As a result, ticket sales increased by nearly $1,000 over the previous year.

Quinn presented a total of 26 awards in five categories. In addition, he announced that three Illinois communities -- Canton, Hoopeston and Woodstock -- have been accepted as new associates in the Illinois Main Street Program. They were chosen from a record group of 26 communities that sent representatives to Illinois Main Street application workshops earlier this spring. Over the next 15 months, the new associate communities will work to achieve full status as designated Main Street Communities.

Vandalia Main Street and Waukegan Main Street joined the program's elite Premier ranks in recognition of their efforts to maintain extraordinarily high standards and become leaders throughout the state.

Quinn accepted an honor on behalf of the Main Street Program, which was cited by American Institute of Architects Illinois in its list of "150 Illinois Great Places" earlier this year. AIA Illinois included "Main Street" on its list of architecturally significant places, and noted: "Main streets in Illinois have a special advocate in the Illinois Main Street Program."

"This honor recognizes the special contribution that Illinois Main Streets make to the quality of life in our state," Quinn said.

The awards ceremony was the highlight of the Illinois Main Street Conference, held at the Danville Masonic Center. Nearly 300 Main Street leaders volunteers and local officials attended the conference.

This year's theme, "Main Street for All Seasons -- Strategies for Sustainability," was underscored by the keynote address, "Moving Beyond Change," presented by Springfield-based consultant Kevin Lust. Other presenters offered expert advice on marketing, promotions, public relations, and historic preservation.

Illinois Main Street represents one of the state's most effective public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal.

Since its inception, designated communities have reported net gains of more than 1,600 new downtown businesses and created more than 6,000 new full and part-time jobs. The Main Street program has spurred the reinvestment of more than $575 million in Main Street downtowns.

Illinois is one of 40 states participating in the National Main Street program, administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Lieutenant Governor's Office administers the Illinois Main Street program, now the fourth-largest in the nation, with architectural assistance from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

For details about the Illinois Main Street program, visit Web site www.IllinoisMainStreet.org.