CMSC held its annual Awards Gala last week at Roia Restaurant in New Haven, bringing Main Street executives, organizers and supporters together for a night of celebration. This year CMSC changed the format, giving guests more time to mix and mingle throughout the restaurant, which is located in the gorgeously restored Taft Hotel .

Town officials, local stakeholders and downtown organizations beamed with pride as they received their awards. CMSC members congratulated their colleagues on a job well done as they celebrated their own accomplishments for the year.

Click here to view photos from the event.

The group from Seymour proudly shows off their Award for Renewed Commitment to Main Street

2014 Connecticut Main Street Awards of Excellence

Events & Programming

▪Award of Excellence for Wine on Main Street - Main Street Waterbury, Terry Boyd, Braza Churrascaria, Courtyard by Marriott, Diorio's Restaurant, Shamrock Pub & Grill, Tryst Lounge, Signature's Restaurant, City Hall Café, Howland Hughes Center, Nutmeg Fine Wine & Spirits.

Marketing & Communications

▪Award of Excellence for Discover NW CT - Northwestern CT Regional Planning Collaborative (representing the Towns of Sharon, Falls Village, Goshen, Cornwall, Canaan, Salisbury, Kent, and Norfolk), Studio Two, local business owners in the eight towns in the "Secret Corner", and local historical societies.

Public Space

▪Award of Excellence for Complete Streets Master Plan for Downtown New Britain - Downtown Streetscape Working Group, City of New Britain (including the Mayor's Office, Public Works, Planning and Parks Departments), New Britain Downtown District, Polonia Business District, Central Connecticut State University/ITBE, Capitol Region Council of Governments, and Project Consultant Team.

Renewed Commitment to Main Street

▪Award of Excellence for Seymour Downtown Action Strategy - Town of Seymour, Seymour Economic Development Commission, Seymour Downtown Committee, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Naugatuck River Greenway Steering Committee, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, Downtown Merchants Association, Planimetrics, Milone and MacBroom; CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Main Street Partnership

▪Award of Excellence for Axis901 and MCC on Main - First Niagara Bank, Manchester Community College (MCC) Foundation, Town of Manchester (Board of Directors and Staff).

Economic & Business Development

▪Award of Excellence to The Business Women of Grand Street - Main Street Waterbury, The Dutch Flower Lady, Technology Forensics, John Bale Book Company, Fine Craft Jewelers, Dottie's 2, Princess Lingerie, Brass City Market on Field, Fashion Addict.

2014 Nationally Accredited Main Street Programs

▪Simsbury Main Street Partnership

▪Upper Albany Main Street (Hartford)

▪Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (New Haven)

▪Main Street Waterbury

2014 Volunteers of the Year

▪ Jordan Whipple - New London Main Street 

▪ Michelle Muddy - Simsbury Main Street Partnership 

▪ Rob Gardner - Main Street Waterbury

▪ Kathleen Bradley - Westville Village Renaissance Alliance

▪ Renee Fournier - New London Main Street 

▪ Grace Connors - Simsbury Main Street Partnership

▪ Eileen LeMay - Main Street Waterbury

▪ Eric Epstein - Westville Village Renaissance Alliance

Our Awards Gala is our biggest public event of the year. It's a time for us "Main Streeters" to gather and celebrate our achievements. This event is also the perfect time to talk about how important it is for all of us to support our downtowns and Main Streets.

Our Awards Gala  is as well-received as it is because of the generous support of our sponsors. In doing so, they show they believe in our work, and that of our members. They understand that when our downtowns thrive, so do our local economies. Creating public spaces, affordable housing and growing businesses gives people the opportunity to improve their lives. By supporting us, we are then able to help our members create just such places. And when they do, we're able to bring attention to their work and show others that it is possible, providing the tools to create their own great places.