Monday, November 15, 2021, Hope, AR —The national small business movement, Independent We Stand, today announced the quarterfinalists, including Hope Downtown Network of Hope, in the 2021 America’s Main Streets “Road to Recovery” contest. As the backbone of our cities and towns, Main Streets play an important role in local economies and serve as community pillars, bringing people together when many have been apart. The economic vitality of Hope Downtown Network is one way we will continue on the “Road to Recovery” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Independent We Stand invites the public to take action and play a role in the survival of Main Streets by voting online for their favorite quarterfinalist and moving a deserving Main Street one step closer to the cash grand prize of $25,000.
In 2018, Hope Downtown Network (HDN) was designated an Arkansas Downtown Network member through Main Street Arkansas. Since that time, HDN has made progress in the areas of downtown business revitalization and historic preservation.
John Hollis, Hope Downtown Network board president commented, “Hope, like cities all over the country has implemented plans to reinvest, revitalize, and re-grow its downtown. We are thrilled to be a part of any effort to add to the long-term success of our community and the enjoyment of the historic downtown area.”
More than 494,000 total votes were cast for 216 nominees during the nominations phase. The 2021 quarterfinalists in alphabetical order are:
Beardstown Illinois, Beardstown, IL
Brooksville Main Street, Orlando, FL
Cambridge Main Street, Cambridge, OH
Clovis MainStreet, Clovis, NM
Downtown Canton, Canton, GA
Downtown Hudson, Hudson, MA
Downtown Jeffersonville, Jeffersonville, IN
Eatonton Main Street, Eatonton, GA
Elizabeth City Downtown, Elizabeth City, NC
Fort Payne Main Street, Fort Payne, AL
Historic Downtown Mount Airy, Mount Airy, NC
Hope Downtown Network, Hope, AR
Jacksonville Main Street, Jacksonville, IL
LaBelle Downtown Revitalization Corporation, LaBelle, FL
Main & Broad Streets, Lititz, PA
Main Street Altus, Altus, OK
Main Street Enterprise, Enterprise, AL
Main Street Hayward, Hayward, WI
Main Street Homer, Homer, LA
Main Street Monroe, Monroe, WI
Main Street Osborne, Osborne, KS
Make it Maryville, Maryville, MO
Norton Business District, Norton, KS
Texarkana USA Amtrak Station Exterior and Platform Area, Texarkana, TX
Washington Avenue, Navasota, TX
To vote online for quarterfinalists in the “America’s Main Streets” contest please visit MainStreetContest.com.
Semifinalist online voting begins November 15 and runs through December 12. The winner of the “America’s Main Streets” contest will be announced December 20, 2021, with a celebration event tentatively scheduled for February 2022.
Additional contest prizes include:
STIHL Equipment Certificate for $1,000 worth of STIHL equipment good at any STIHL Dealer in the U.S.
Do it Best Corp. $500 shopping spree
tmbr Flooring $500 shopping spree
Nationwide Marketing Group $500 shopping spree
Public relations and social media recognition
A special plaque for the winner to proudly display
Presenting Contest Sponsor:
STIHL Inc., America’s number-one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment*, is the founding sponsor of Independent We Stand and the presenting sponsor of America’s Main Streets contest. The company follows a unique distribution strategy in the handheld outdoor power equipment industry, choosing never to sell products at big box stores, but instead remaining loyal to its 10,000+ authorized local STIHL Dealers nationwide.
Supporting Contest Sponsors:
About Independent We Stand
Independent We Stand is a nationwide movement of independent small business owners whose mission is to inspire other small business owners to better understand and celebrate their locally owned status while educating consumers about the importance and strong economic benefits of supporting them. The Independent We Stand movement is sponsored by STIHL Inc. STIHL products are sold through more than 10,000 authorized local STIHL Dealers from coast to coast – not big box stores. Associate sponsors include North American Hardware and Paint Association, Nationwide Marketing Group, Do it Best Corp. and tmbr Flooring.
*"Number one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2020 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.