Discover Downtown

Two Awards Come Home To Downtown Excelsior Springs

August 8, 2022

Missouri Main Street Connection, Inc. (MMSC) presented downtown revitalization awards recognizing revitalization excellence during Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference in Kansas City on August 5, 2022. The event was hosted at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

Missouri Main Street Connection is the leading statewide nonprofit organization devoted to preservation-based economic development. Through the Main Street American movement and our partners, we empower community revitalization by celebrating, supporting, and sustaining Missouri historic commercial districts in both rural and urban settings.

MMSC is proud to announce that we have been celebrating one billion dollars in public and private investment in Missouri Main Street districts. This milestone was reached at the end of 2021. In addition, Missouri Main Street communities have created 5,069 net new jobs and 1,068 net net businesses from 2006-2021.

The ceremony Friday night honored communities, individuals, businesses, and organizations from across the state that have completed exemplary work in downtown revitalization. Competitive nominations were submitted for projects, activities, and individuals in 16 different categories that covered aspects of design, economic vitality, organization, promotion and other efforts in downtown revitalization.

Best Organization Pandemic Response Awarded to Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc.

State Director Gayla Roten, Executive Director Lyndsey M. Baxter, DEP Volunteer Keith Hudson & Board President Nate Williams

Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. focused on communication coordination, developing reopening guidelines, and helping small businesses navigate this new landscape. The first idea from the Promotion committee was a Show Love, Support Local Guide that shared modifications to business hours and practices, online ordering information, curbside pick-up options, and how the public could support the downtown business community.

The Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. started a Monday Morning Mingle with merchants to share updated state and county emergency orders and assisted merchants in navigating the Personal Paycheck Protection program, Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and other programs that would be beneficial for small downtown businesses.

A “One Town, One Team” business grant program was put together with the Chamber of Commerce with over $10,000 in forgivable grant money used for rent, utilities, and wages to help the businesses weather the pandemic storm. Other programs offered through the Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. reflected each Main Street committee providing programs or alternate events to support the downtown community. As a result of these and other programs from the local Main Street program, Downtown Excelsior Springs saw more new businesses open during the pandemic than it lost.

To read the full award nomination click here.

Premier Partner Awarded to Morgansites!

MMSC Board President Bob Lewis, DEP Executive Director Lyndsey M. Baxter, Morgansites Joe Morgan, Morgansites Courtney Cole, MMSC Board Member Karen Bode Baxter

With 20 years of experience in helping area businesses get online, Morgansites had the technological resources small businesses needed to transition to an online presence. They made a split-second decision to offer free websites with online e-commerce not only to businesses located in Downtown Excelsior Springs, but also in the surrounding communities. They offered a free professionally built six-page e-commerce website as no cost for six months that included a home and about us page, online shop, customer account dashboard, shopping cart, and blog page.

The Morgan’s understood the negative impact business closures would have on the local economy and wanted to provide this opportunity to prevent loss of revenue and business closures. This effort was genuinely focused on helping mom-and-pop businesses stay afloat in troubling times. Over 15 businesses took advantage of the free e-commerce site and saw a direct benefit of online revenue since their doors were closed to walk-in traffic. Many have kept the e-commerce site giving them a diversified revenue stream going forward.

The Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. strongly believes that Morgansites is recognized as a Premier Partner not only for its Small Business Recovery Plan, but for their work and dedication it contributes to downtown and the entire community every day.

To read the full award nomination for Morgansites click here.

For more information on either of these awards, contact Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. Executive Director, Lyndsey M. Baxter at 816.719.9912 or exec@visitesprings.com.