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2025 Kansas Main Street Awards

On March 16, 2026 the Kansas Department of Commerce held the first inaugural Kansas Main Street Awards honoring the individuals and organizations across the state for their excellence in growing our main street communities. The Kansas Main Street Awards celebrate Kansas’ Main Streets and their partners by honoring leaders in the community who have made significant contributions to our downtown’s economic growth — and those who continue to inspire others to make similar impacts across Kansas. These exceptional communities have distinguished themselves through an unwavering commitment to historic preservation, education, and economic development. Year after year, they demonstrate the dedication and excellence required to earn annual accreditation from the state of Kansas and designation by the National Main Street Center — a recognition that places them, among the best downtown programs in the nation.

Through their tireless efforts, these communities have transformed their downtown into active, vibrant destinations — honoring the history and character of their districts while building a strong and thriving economic future.

Certified Main Street Communities

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Event Photography

Backdrop Photos

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Award Winners

Volunteer of The Year | Cindy Goertz – Winfield

For many years, Cindy has been a steadfast champion of Winfield’s downtown core — a critical economic engine of the community. Her volunteer leadership and tireless dedication reflect the very essence of what the Kansas Main Street Program seeks to honor. As the chairman of Winfield Main Street and board member for the Cowley County Historical Society, Cindy Goertz is the key player in ensuring that all Main Street activities go off without a hitch and that. Cindy coordinates with city staff and arranges volunteers for the Winfield Main Street yearly downtown clean-up in April and also for the downtown flower planting in May. Cindy helps recruit volunteers for the downtown hamburger feed and music crawl in September and helps with logistics for the Lighted Christmas parade in December. Cindy is also the lead person for the historic plaques that are displayed outside downtown properties, coordinating the design, research, fabrication, and installation of those plaques.

Cindy’s passion for Winfield’s downtown revitalization aligns perfectly with the mission of the Kansas Main Street Program — to support downtown districts as vibrant, economically resilient centers of community life.

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Main Street of The Year | Seneca

The Main Street of the Year recognizes a Main Street program that demonstrates exceptional leadership, organizational strength, and measurable impact in advancing downtown revitalization. The program exemplifies excellence across the Main Street Approach while fostering strong community partnerships, supporting local businesses, and implementing innovative strategies that enhance the vitality and sustainability of the district. Through effective planning, collaboration, and results-driven initiatives, this program serves as a model for Main Street communities across the state.

Seneca Area Chamber and Downtown Impact exemplify excellence across all four points of the Main Street Approach, Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization. Their effective planning and community collaboration unifies local businesses, residents, and Government partners towards shared goals. They are a statewide inspiration, that serves as a replicable model, inspiring Main Street programs across the state to achieve greater economic vitality and impact.

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Business of The Year | Gravel City Roasters – Emporia

Event of The Year | Holiday Festival and Parade of Lights – Salina

Historic Rehabilitation of The Year | High Wind Brewing Company – Junction City.

Upper Floor of The Year | The Cook Apartments and Workspace – Independence

Certificate Awardees

Kansas Accredited Main Street Programs

One Marysville – A Kansas Main Street Community

Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Program

Leavenworth Main Street

Garden City Downtown Vision – A Main Street Community

Seneca Area Chamber & Downtown Impact – A Kansas Main Street Community

McPherson Main Street

Salina Downtown Inc. – A Kansas Main Street Community

Belleville Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Program

Junction City Main Street

Main Street Chanute Inc.

Emporia Main Street

El Dorado Main Street

Dodge City Main Street

Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce – A Kansas Main Street Community

Go! Augusta Main Street

Choose Newton – A Kansas Main Street Community

Ottawa Main Street Association

Locally Atchison Main Street

Great Bend Main Street

Independence Main Street

Russell Main Street Inc.

Kansas Main Street America Affiliate Programs

Wakeeney Main Street

Kansas City Kansas Downtown Shareholders – A Kansas Main Street Community

Baldwin City Main Street

Eureka Main Street

Sterling Chamber of Commerce – A Kansas Main Street Community

Valley Center Main Street

Girard Main Street

Kansas Main Street County-Wide Pilot Project Participants

Sumner County Economic Development and Main Street

Cherokee County Economic Development and Main Street

Stafford County Economic Development and Main Street

Distinguished Programs

Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (E3) Community Pilot Project Programs

Junction City Main Street

Kansas City Kansas Downtown Shareholders

Ottawa Main Street Association

Ad Astra Programs

Emporia Main Street

Junction City Main Street

Seneca Chamber Area and Downtown Impact