MAIN STREET WOODSTOCK Named Quarterfinalist for “America’s Main Streets” Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Woodstock, GA – The national small business movement, Independent We Stand, announces the quarterfinalists, including MAIN STREET WOODSTOCK of WOODSTOCK, GA, of the 2016 Independent We Stand “America’s Main Streets” contest. As the lifeblood of our cities and towns, Main Streets play an important role in the long-term success of communities and help build a sense of place. Independent We Stand invites the public to vote for their favorite quarterfinalist and move a deserving Main Street one step closer to the grand prize of $25,000.

Woodstock Georgia’s downtown has seen tremendous revitalization and growth since the city became a part of the Main Street program in 2010. Since that time Downtown Woodstock has seen over $250 million dollars in public/private investment made in the downtown area, 280 new businesses opened, 1,975 new jobs created, 1,140 new residential units, and over 800 hundred thousand event attendees. Downtown Woodstock is a true Main Street success story. Downtown Woodstock provides a one of a kind shopping & dining experience. During a shopping trip to Downtown Woodstock you will discover great clothing boutiques, antiques, an independent book store, jewelry, art, unique gift items and much more at the over 30 local shops found in downtown. When it comes to great food Downtown Woodstock has something for everyone with over 20 restaurants that offer a wide range of foods, from farm to the table, seafood, Italian & Mexican cuisine, cupcakes & pie, burgers & hotdogs, and even a food truck themed restaurant. Downtown Woodstock is also home to award winning Reformation Brewery, which offers awesome tasting tours. Downtown Woodstock holds a world of southern charm, with great deals, historic ambience, and a strong sense of community. A visit to Downtown Woodstock is a charming experience that will enchant both visitors and residents alike. From the beautiful architecture, the rich history you can discover, the natural beauty of the Park at City Center, and the charm & convenience of the Downtown Woodstock Trolley, Downtown Woodstock offers each visitor and resident something new & wonderful during each visit.

“Main Street Woodstock is very excited to have advanced to the quarterfinal-final round in this contest,” said Mitzi Saxon, COO of Main Street Woodstock, Inc. “We ask for the communities continued support of our downtown by continuing to support our small and local businesses as well as voting for us through the quarterfinal round.”

“The goal of this inaugural Independent We Stand ‘America’s Main Streets’ contest is to promote the importance and strong economic benefits of Main Streets and the small businesses that help them thrive,” says Independent We Stand co-founder Bill Brunelle. “We are so pleased to see how passionate people are about their Main Streets. It’s evident by the broad range of nominations we saw representing 44 states in the first round. Now, it’s time to rally and vote again for these terrific quarterfinalists.”

More than 150,000 votes were cast for 253 nominees during the nominations phase. The quarterfinalists in alphabetical order are:

  • Ames Main Street Cultural District, Ames, Iowa
  • Cedar Lee Business District, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
  • Corning’s Gaffer District, Corning, N.Y.
  • Dover-Foxcroft Downtown, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
  • Downtown Brookings, Brookings, S.D.
  • Downtown Development Authority of the City of Tifton, Tifton, Ga.
  • Downtown Laurel, MS, Laurel, Miss.
  • Downtown Lynden, Lynden, Wash.
  • Doylestown, PA, Doylestown, Pa.
  • Gateway to the Great North Woods, Millinocket, Maine
  • Grapevine Historic Main Street, Grapevine, Texas
  • Historic Downtown Franklin TN, Franklin, Tenn.
  • Jacksonville Main Street, Jacksonville, Ill.
  • Main Street Greenville, Greenville, Ohio
  • Main Street Libertyville, Libertyville, Ill.
  • Main Street Madison Indiana, Madison, Ind.
  • McKinney Main Street, McKinney, Texas
  • Moultrie Main Street, Moultrie, Ga.
  • Sterling Main Street, Sterling, Ill.
  • Stuart Main Street, Stuart, Fla.
  • Third Street, Beaver, Pa.
  • Venice Main Street, Venice, Fla.
  • Water Street, Gardiner, Maine
  • Wellsboro Main Street Pennsylvania, Wellsboro, Pa.
  • Woodstock, Georgia, Woodstock, Ga.

Semifinalist voting begins May 2 at MainStreetContest.com and runs through May 29. The winner of the 2016 “America’s Main Streets” contest will be announced June 3.

Contest prizes include:

  • $25,000 grand prize
  • STIHL Equipment Certificate for $1,000 worth of STIHL equipment good at any STIHLdealer in the U.S.
  • $500 Tire Pros certificate towards a set of Continental tires
  • $500 Do it Best Corp. shopping spree
  • $500 PPG Pittsburgh Paints shopping spree
  • Public relations and social media recognition
  • An Alignable small business social media “Neighborhood” on the site
  • Special plaque for winner to proudly display

For more information on MAIN STREET WOODSTOCK, visit: downtownwoodstock.org or contact Mitzi Saxon at 770-592-6056.

You may also use the promotional video and b-roll at these links both online or in broadcasts.

    • America’s Main Streets promotional video: https://vimeo.com/163033139
    • America’s Main Streets b-roll: https://vimeo.com/163033097/b05f9eb810

To vote for “America’s Main Streets” quarterfinalists, visit MainStreetContest.com.

Co-presenting Sponsors:

STIHL Inc., America’s number-one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment, is the founding sponsor of Independent We Stand and a co-presenting sponsor of America’s Main Streets contest. The company follows a unique distribution strategy in the handheld power equipment industry, choosing never to sell products at big box stores, but instead remaining loyal to its 9,000+ independent servicing dealers nationwide.

FCA US BusinessLink is an organization within FCA US LLC that encompasses the commercial dealer network, BusinessLink, as well as develops cost-of-doing-business reducing programs and valuable-to-business incentives for small business consumers. FCAWorkVehiclesUS.com is the destination for commercial vehicles, testimonials, current incentives, finding a local dealer and much more.

Supporting Sponsors:

    • Main Street AmericaTM
    • Alignable
    • Do it Best Corp.
    • National Federation of Independent Businesses
    • North American Retail Hardware Association
    • PPG Pittsburgh Paints
    • Tire Pros

About Independent We Stand

Independent We Stand is a movement of independent business owners across the country dedicated to informing their communities about the importance of “Buying Local” and how these efforts bolster their local economy. This movement supports all local and national causes committed to boosting local economic development projects. The Independent We Stand movement is co-sponsored by STIHL Inc. and FCA US LLC. www.IndependentWeStand.org