MASON CITY—The Main Street Iowa Game Changer Award was formally presented to Mayor Bill Schickel and City Administrator Aaron Burnett today in a ceremony at the multi-purpose arena.
The Main Street Iowa award was also unveiled and will be put on permanent display at the arena entrance.
Main Street Mason City President Melissa Fabian and Executive Director Emily Ginneberge presented the award on behalf of Main Street Iowa. This is one of two statewide Game Changer Awards this year. The second went to Cedar Rapids.
Main Street Mason City received the distinction for the River City Renaissance Multi-Purpose Arena project.
“This project is a catalyst for a significant amount of downtown development…with long lasting economic benefit,” noted the Main Street Iowa award announcement.
“As shopping habits changed and retail stores in the mall began to close, including the anchor stores, it became apparent a new approach was needed to re-purpose vacant space to make the building functional again.”
“At the same time, many organizations were participating in hockey and other ice sports at the North Area Ice Arena that was in dire need of repair.”
“Community leaders reacted by considering the construction of a multipurpose arena in the mall’s west end retail anchor space. As a result of this project, Southbridge has been reimagined and is once again a downtown destination,” according to the award announcement.
“Main Street Iowa has stood the test of time since its introduction in 1985,” said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority. “We continue to see significant growth in the amount of business, jobs and investment. These districts serve as inspiring examples of what’s possible for Iowa’s downtowns.”
This is one of four awards Mason City took away this year in an earlier virtual presentation due to Covid-19.
The city also received the Exceptional Special Events Award for the Haunted Historic Building Tour. The Leadership Award was given to Melissa Fabian and the Business of the Year was awarded to Market 124 owner Katie Wold.
So when are MY kids going to get theirs? You know, the 25 million dollar new field house at Mason City High School. It’s not supposed to cost us taxpayers anything either. LOL!
it is so easy to spend everybody elses money, and you fools are letting it happen. Your kids will pay the price for this for the next 40 years.
Not mine they are gone as we will be
notice the picture, all 4 standing tgether, not 6 ft apart and no one has a mask on, good way to go mason city management team!!!!
According to our Republican President the pandemic is over & we can all go about our daily lives……No Masks Needed.
Yeah, they got an award for wasting taxpayer money.
That’s a FACT!
What are all of you complaining about? When only 20% of the population vote, you get what you deserve! Wasteful spenders.