Downtown Colorado

GOVERNOR'S AWARDS FOR DOWNTOWN EXCELLENCE


GOVERNOR'S AWARDS FOR DOWNTOWN EXCELLENCE


GOVERNOR'S AWARDS FOR DOWNTOWN EXCELLENCE


The Governor’s Awards for Downtown Excellence celebrates the amazing projects and people that are committed to economic and community revitalization in Colorado. Congratulations to past Governor’s Awards for Downtown Excellence Winners!


2023 Governor's Award Ceremony: April 13, 2023 | Loveland 

All nominees receive a ticket to attend the ceremony. The winners will be announced at the ceremony. 

NOMINATION DEADLINE EXTENDED! 
Since 2003, the Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence have recognized outstanding projects and people in Colorado that demonstrate creativity in the face of challenges, unlikely and enduring partnerships and dedication to community to further downtown initiatives. Each year the Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence serve as a highlight for DCI’s IN THE GAME Vibrant Downtown Event, an annual conference for downtown champions, resources, and stewards. All nominated projects must be completed between August 1, 2020 and March 30, 2023. The nomination fee is $100 and all nominations must be submitted by Monday, February 20, 2023. All nominated projects must include a DCI Member on the project team. 

NOMINATE FOR PARTNERSHIP, PLACE, PLAN, PROJECT


NOMINATE A PERSON FOR VICKI MATTOX DOWNTOWNER OF THE YEAR

2023 Downtown Colorado, Inc. Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence

Submission Categories + Details



CATEGORY

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

EVALUATION CRITERIA

PARTNERSHIP

Recognition for excellence in commitment to collaborating partnerships that encourage and foster knowledge, awareness, support of initiatives, and other stakeholders within the local community.  


Description of involvement with DCI and local community; photos from events and projects which resulted from partnership. One partner must be a DCI Member.


Impacts of partnership to downtown and community, how well the partnership achieved goals, and how well it incorporated into the local businesses and community. 

PERSON | Vicki Mattox Downtowner of the Year 

This award recognizes individuals who have shown exemplary commitment to their local downtown and community. Nominees encourage ongoing collaboration and teamwork benefiting the community.  


Biography of nominee, photo, description of volunteer role and accomplishments. Nominating entity must be a DCI Member.


Impact of volunteer work on downtown and the community. 

PLACE

Recognition of excellence in the creation and/or renewal of public space which encourages a sense of place. the public space improvements enhanced the urban design, physical function or economic viability of downtown and the community.  


Description of site/area, photos of location and surroundings, photos of project process. Nominating community must be a DCI Member.


Relationship of public space to downtown corridor and the culture of the surrounding area, impact on the downtown, and the community.

PLAN

Recognition of excellence in the creation of comprehensive, downtown-centric, and revitalization/renewal focused plan for the local community.  


Description of plan and efforts contributed to execute plan. Impacts of implemented plan on local community; photo of plan and plan location/area. One partner must be a DCI Member.


Impact on downtown, how well it considered local businesses and community, how well it achieved goals. 

PROJECT

Award recognizes excellence in exemplary commitment to the formation of projects which further enhanced and encouraged the integrity and potential of an area. The exemplary projects positively impacted the local community through commitment to the downtown, larger plan of the community, and overall culture and nature of the community where it resides.  


Description of site/area prior to project, impacts of the project on community; before and after photos of project location, and photos of surrounding buildings/area. One partner must be a DCI Member.


State of area before project, influence to the area, impact on community and downtown. 

PREVIOUS GOVERNOR'S AWARDS WINNERS


2022 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR DOWNTOWN EXCELLENCE WINNERS
Meet the Award Winners from 2022 and learn more about their projects and efforts, here:

2022 Governor's Awards Flyer

Best Pandemic Response for Business + Community Response

  • THE ROAD TO RECOVERY: The City of Englewood’s Economic Response to COVID-19 | City of Englewood
  • Love Frisco- Promenade, Grants, and More | Town of Frisco 

Best Pandemic Response for Events

  • Downtown Trick-or-Treat | City of Fort Collins
  • Downtown Windsor Pandemic Response | Town of Windsor 

Best Projects

  • Downtown Fort Collins Restaurant Week | City of Fort Collins
  • Block 64 Revitalization | City of Montrose 

Best Partnerships

  • The Pueblo Levee Project | City of Pueblo
  • Granby ArtWalk | Town of Granby

Best Places

  • 39th Avenue Greenway | City of Denver
  • A Step Back in Time: Fremont County National Bank | City of Cañon City


Vicki Mattox Downtowner of the Year Awards:

  • Steve Art, City of Wheat Ridge
  • Troy Bernberg, Northland Securities
  • Krista + Tim Bush, City of Montrose
  • Jay Cimino, City of Colorado Springs
  • Jeremy Elliot, Town of San Luis
  • Brian Lujan, Town of Center
  • Dan Stauss, Windsor DDA
  • Kevin Tilson, Castle Rock DDA

2021 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR DOWNTOWN EXCELLENCE WINNERS

Meet the Award Winners from 2021 and learn more about their projects and efforts, here:

2021 Governor’s Awards Flyer

Best of Plans

  • East and East Central Area Plans - City and County of Denver Neighborhood Planning  Initiative, Denver 
  • Englewood Downtown Plan, Englewood

Best of Place

  • Neon Alley, Pueblo

Best of Projects

  • Apartments at Maddie, Greeley
  • Downtown Improvements Project, Steamboat Springs

Best of Events

  • Virtual First Friday, Colorado Springs
  • ArtWalk: Murder on Broadway, Eagle

Best of Partnership

  • All for Fall, Fort Collins
  • ManitouMade.com, Manitou Springs


Best Pandemic Response - Outdoor Expansion

  • Weekends on Main, Littleton
  • Main St. Closure for Expanded Outdoor Dining, Louisville

Best Pandemic Response - Partnership

  • Jefferson County and Municipality, Jefferson County
  • Glenwood Springs Pandemic Response, Glenwood Springs



Best Pandemic Response - Financial Assistance

  • RiNo Art District Pandemic Response Initiative, Denver


People’s Choice Award

  • Tipi the Town, Montrose
  • Streetscape Public Realm Masterplans, Denver


Vicki Mattox Downtowner of the Year

  • Terri Takata-Smith, Downtown Boulder Partnership
  • Bill Shrum, Town of Eagle
  • Rody Slyhoff, Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce



Colorful Colorado Award

  • Telluride Town Council and Staff

2020 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR DOWNTOWN EXCELLENCE WINNERS

Best of Plan

  • Alamosa Downtown Design Plan, Alamosa
  • Loveland Downtown Design Standards, Loveland

Best of Place

  • Glenwood Springs 7th Street Enhancement Project, Glenwood Springs
  • Greeley Art Alley, Greeley

Best of Project with Adaptation

  • The Windsor Mill, Windsor
  • Poudre Garage, Fort Collins

Best of Project with New Building

  • The Foundry Loveland, Loveland

Best of Partnership for Events

  • 2019 SOCO Tourism Summit, La Junta, Walsenberg, Trinidad
  • Englewood Block Party, Englewood

Best of Partnership

  • Durango Renewal Partnership, Durango
  • Ready to Work Program, Boulder

People’s Choice Award

  • The Windsor Mill, Windsor
  • Greeley Art Alley, Greeley


Vicki Mattox Downtowner of the Year

  • Judy Ann Files, City of Montrose 
  • Marian Hollingsworth, Lake City DIRT
  • Rick Kron, Spencer Fane
  • Steve Art, City of Wheat Ridge

2019 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR DOWNTOWN EXCELLENCE WINNERS

Best Adaptive Reuse of Rehabilitation

  • Storm King Distilling Co, Montrose (2019)
  • The Exchange, Fort Collins (2019)

Best Event, Festival or Recurring Activity

  • The MAIN Event, Durango (2019)
  • Canon City Music and Blossom Festival, Canon City (2019)
  • Chile and Frijoles Festival, Pueblo (2019)

Best New Addition to Downtown

  • Terraza del Sol, Denver (2019)
  • Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, Silverthorne (2019)

Best Urban Renewal Project

  • Pueblo Regional Tourism Act Project, Pueblo (2019)
  • Montrose Urban Renewal Authority, Montrose (2019)

Best Use of Public Space

  • 40 West Artline, Lakewood (2019)
  • 8th Avenue Realignment, Garden City (2019)

Dynamic District Award

  • Windsor, CO (2019)

Vikki Mattox Downtowners of the Year

  • Brandon Stam, Grand Junction, CO (2019)
  • DiAnn Butler, Grand County Economic Development (2019)
  • Jackie Morlan, Bayfield, CO (2019)
  • John Desmond, Downtown Denver Partnership (2019)
  • Tara Marshall, Trinidad, CO (2019)
  • Sam Mamet, Colorado Municipal League (2019)

Colorful Colorado Award

  • The Pickaxe Project - Ayers Associates & Colorado Main Street (2019)