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Home  Area News DOWNTOWN SILOAM SPRINGS RECEIVES STATE MAIN STREET AWARDS
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Saturday, 14 January 2012 18:14 |
 Siloam Springs, ARK. — On Wednesday evening, January 11, two Siloam Springs "downtowners" received state-level recognition from Main Street Arkansas at the Arkansas Municipal League Winter Conference in downtown Little Rock. Pour Jon's Coffee and Tea won the award for the Best New Downtown Business, and Shelley Simmons received Main Street Hero Award.
Every other year, Main Street Arkansas bestows these awards on exemplary Main Street communities throughout the state, based on a set of criteria and nominations given by local Main Street program directors. This is the first year that Siloam Springs has been eligible for the awards since receiving full Main Street Community status in September of 2011.
"We're thrilled to receive state-level recognition for the work going on in downtown Siloam Springs," said Main Street Siloam Springs director Meredith Bergstrom. "Our downtown has experienced tremendous growth and reinvestment over the past several years, and both Pour Jon's and Shelley Simmons truly deserve these awards."
Siloam Springs Crowd at the Arkansas Municipal League Winter Conference in downtown Little Rock
(click photo to enlarge)
Pour Jon's Coffee and Tea opened in February of 2011, and received "Best New Downtown Business" because of the atmosphere of the business as much as the products it serves. The business filled a long-time vacant space and highlighted a once forgotten corner of the historic district. Proprietor Jon Smith, at only 18, worked diligently with other family members to build the business' interior from scratch, using innovative designs for furniture, shelving, and a community stage area.
"It's awesome to come from such a humble beginning, and see the business grow to become so popular in our community," said Jon. "I really see it as a community space. Good coffee is the medium for community to happen."
Shelley Simmons, current Board President of Main Street Siloam Springs, received her Main Street Hero award in recognition of her role in elevating the community organization to a new level. In 2008, Simmons came into the organization as the part-time Executive Director, working pro bono for the first 6 months while bringing the organization into a fiscally sustainable position. She worked to strengthen the foundation of the Main Street Four Point Approach of downtown revitalization, established new community events such as Dog Day of Summer, and brought the organization to the point of being able to hire a full-time director in December 2010. She continues to volunteer multiple hours a week in her new role as President of the Board of Directors.
More information about both Shelley Simmons and Pour Jon's can be found in copies of their award nominations, attached.
For more information: www.mainstreetsiloam.com / www.facebook.com/mainstreetsiloamsprings
Main Street Siloam Springs
1/13/12
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