Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin joined Main Street West Virginia in hosting the state’s Main Street and ON TRAC Reception and Awards Program. The event was held Wednesday, June 18, 5 p.m. at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston.
The awards program recognizes the achievements of the state’s accredited Main Street communities and ON TRAC (Organization, Training, Revitalization and Capacity) communities.
The accredited Main Street communities are Charleston East End, Charleston West Side,; Fairmont, Kingwood, Mannington, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Philippi, Point Pleasant, Ripley, Ronceverte and White Sulphur Springs.
The state’s accredited ON TRAC communities are: Belington, Beverly, Elkins, Madison, Parkersburg, Parsons, Charles Town, Romney, Rowlesburg, Shinnston, Sutton, Marlinton and Kenova.
“Main Street West Virginia and the ON TRAC work with communities to revitalize our state’s downtown districts,” Gov. Tomblin said. “Their efforts help to restore the sense of hometown pride and purpose, encouraging new business development and neighborhood growth.”
Main Street Innovation Awards
Innovative projects focus on creative solutions to economic restructuring within the designated commercial district.
Small Communities (population less than 6,000)
First Place: Main Street Ronceverte
“Verte Tech”: The Green Corridor Plan
The “Verte Tech” service will create a Wi-Fi District within the historical Ronceverte commercial district.
Second Place: Main Street Point Pleasant
Boom! Boom! Boom! Sound Is Amazing!
Main Street Point Pleasant will install additional speakers for the presentations of historical stories represented on the floodwall murals and surround sound for the amphitheater.
Third Place: Mannington Main Street
The Local-Motive: Small Businesses On Track
Mannington Main Street continues its Historic Mannington Train Depot Restoration and Small Business Co-Op project.
Fourth Place: Main Street Kingwood
Zero Waste: The Choice of Kingwood
Main Street Kingwood will assist Kingwood City Council to start a recycling center.
Large Communities
Two communities tied for first, eliminating second place.
First place: Main Street Martinsburg
Windows to the Past
This project will display items of local history in the windows of vacant buildings and feature a custom-generated QR code to direct people to historical and property details.
First Place: Charleston West Side Main Street
Gallery 64
This project will develop a pedestrian-friendly space underneath the Interstate 64 bridge, while highlighting the beautifully painted piers.
Third Place: Charleston East End Main Street
The East End Gateway Expansion and Enhancement Project
The project will create a more aesthetically pleasing and safer entrance into the district from the highest-trafficked roads to the neighborhood.
Fourth Place: Main Street Morgantown
“It’s Happening Here” initiative
Main Street Morgantown will implement the recommendations from branding services and establish downtown Morgantown and its Wharf District as a vibrant center of activity.
Main Street Volunteer Awards
Charleston East End Main Street
Board Member of the Year: Lori Brannon
Business Person of the Year: Sullivan’s Records
Local Public Official of the Year: Mary Beth Hoover
Volunteer of the Year: James Yost and Meshea Poore
Charleston West Side Main Street
Board Member of the Year: Adam Krason
Business Person of the Year: Frank and Julia Gonzales, Mi Cocina de Amor
Local Public Official of the Year: Adam Knauff
Volunteer of the Year: Libby Ballard
Main Street Fairmont
Volunteer of the Year: Amanda Hatfield
Main Street Kingwood
Board Member of the Year: Bill Shockey
Business Person of the Year: WesBanco
Local Public Official of the Year: Kingwood City Council
Volunteer of the Year: Alyssa Guillot, Haily Guillot and Heath Guillot
Mannington Main Street
Board Member of the Year: Jim Rigsby
Business Person of the Year: Jennifer Toothman, Mountaineer Florist
Local Public Official of the Year: Mayor James Taylor
Volunteer of the Year: Mellissa Toothman
Main Street Martinsburg
Board Member of the Year: MaryAnn Ferro
Business Person of the Year: Becky Linton, City National Bank
Local Public Official of the Year: Mike Covell
Volunteer of the Year: Mike Hertz
Main Street Morgantown
Board Member of the Year: Sabrina Cave
Business Person of the Year: Jeanne Hagan, Pinocchio’s Books & Toys
Local Public Official of the Year: Officer Steve Bennett
Volunteer of the Year: Bill Kawecki
Philippi Main Street
Board Member of the Year: Judy Larry
Business Person of the Year: Susie Cvechko, Broaddus Hospital
Local Public Official of the Year: Ed Larry
Volunteer of the Year: Mary Beth Lind
Main Street Point Pleasant
Board Member of the Year: Ed Lowe
Business Person of the Year: Karla and John Donahue, The Mason Jar
Local Public Official of the Year: Robert “Bob” Rulen
Volunteer of the Year: Windy Fauber
Main Street Ripley
Board Member of the Year: Edna Pickens
Business Person of the Year: David and Belinda Cochran, Just for You Primitives
Local Public Official of the Year: Kevin Harris
Volunteer of the Year: Tabitha Craddock
Main Street Ronceverte
Board Member of the Year: Kelli Bostic
Business Person of the Year: Kathy King, Edgarton Inn & Edgarton Cafe
Local Public Official of the Year: Doug Hylton
Volunteer of the Year: Barbara Sweetwood
ON TRAC Community Award Winners
Belington: Belington Fall Fest
Beverly: Beverly Blooms Flower Project
Charles Town: Discover Downtown Charles Town
Elkins: Davis Avenue Gateway
Parsons: Restoration of the Bank Building
Romney: Hampshire County Co-op & Heritage Marketplace
Rowlesburg: Various projects
Shinnston: Diagonal Parking
Sutton: Downtown Beautification
Wheeling: First Friday Feather Flags
ON TRAC Volunteer of the Year Awards
Belington: Wayne Stewart
Charles Town: Patrick Blood
Elkins: Bonnie Branciaroli and Mark Branciaroli
Romney: Ruby Winn
Rowlesburg: Gloria Dean
Shinnston: LaReta Lowther
Sutton: Becky Conrad
Wheeling: Susan Hogan
Main Street West Virginia, a program of the West Virginia Development Office, focuses on economic revitalization of historic commercial districts.
In 2008, Main Street West Virginia created the state’s ON TRAC program to help communities boost economic and community growth. Communities undergo a highly-competitive application process to join ON TRAC.
