LAKE ORION, MICHIGAN – The Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has been nominated for six (6) awards for the Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) Main Event Awards Ceremony. The Lake Orion DDA has been nominated for the following award categories:
Spirit of Main Street: Nominated jointly with Downtown Oxford, both DDAs have worked in tandem to create a short video highlighting the Downtown Trolley Express, which runs between both downtowns to support local business and strengthen the bond between neighboring communities.
Campaign for Main Street: Lake Orion and Oxford received a joint nomination for the #StrongerTogether Campaign, a series of events designed to foster a partnership between both downtowns and their respective organizations to benefit both communities.
Main Street Leader: Village Council President and DDA Board Member Kenneth VanPortfliet was nominated for this award, in recognition of his dedication to Downtown Lake Orion and his steadfast commitment to the survivors of the residential fire at 35 N. Broadway. Mr. VanPortfliet worked tirelessly, and coordinated with numerous organizations to secure funding and necessities as quickly and effectively as possible.
Main Street Innovator: DDA Board Chair and community leader Debbie Burgess received the nomination for this award for her dedication to building a stronger community in Downtown Lake Orion. Mrs. Burgess has been instrumental in fostering relationships between the DDA, community members and the Village. Her resolute commitment to Downtown Lake Orion is a driving force behind the success of the district and the community as a whole.
Main Street Safe: The Lake Orion DDA has been nominated for this award in light of the efforts to safely provide a sense of normalcy during the uncertainty of the pandemic. Throughout the lockdown, the DDA exhausted every available resource to provide alternative activities and gathering spaces, which were compliant with social distancing guidelines, while still showing that the community was open for business.
Main Street Open: This nomination recognizes the efforts of Downtown Lake Orion to support local business during the height of the pandemic. The Lake Orion DDA secured funding for 54 businesses totaling $241,556 and an additional $8,500 in outdoor infrastructure, to facilitate the safe operation of community businesses during the lockdown.
Results: The Lake Orion DDA received the awards for Main Street Leader (Kenneth VanPortfliet) and Campaign for Main Street. Lake Orion and Oxford were the only organizations to win multiple categories, by securing the joint award for the #StrongerTogether event series. The award ceremony was the first in-person gathering of MSOC communities since the pandemic. Since 2001, Main Street communities in the county have generated more than $1 billion of private investment into local downtowns. MSOC and its member communities are excited for another year of securing the economic future of Oakland County.
Contact: Brad Wheelock, Administrative Coordinator, Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority
Phone: (248) 693 9742 Email: office@downtownlakeorion.org