Efforts to revitalize downtown Foley have garnered further recognition, with Foley Main Street earning the Main Street Alabama Award of Excellence for recent municipal planning projects.

The award, announced at the state organization's annual meeting, highlights the city's ongoing efforts to enhance its historic downtown area.

At the Sept. 16 Foley City Council meeting, Darrelyn Dunmore, executive director of Foley Main Street, presented the award to the city, crediting city-led projects for the win. Among the projects cited was the recent extension of the Perry Wilbourne Antique Rose Trail, a key feature of the downtown landscape.

"Because of your completion of the Willbourne Rose Trail and all the work that the city has done, we were able to get this award," Dunmore told council members. "So we're presenting it to the city, because the city is the lead on this. They are the ones that did the work."

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said Main Street and the local merchants have made major improvements in Foley's historic downtown.

"It's the businesses and the owners downtown. They are as important a partner as the city is," he told Dunmore. "Our city council fully supports Main Street, but I think that we need to make sure that you get credit for being the driving force behind a lot of it."

In the last five years, Foley Main Street has received 11 awards for downtown improvements, according to Dunmore. She emphasized that the city's support has been pivotal in these achievements.

"It's not Main Street that's doing the work. We keep track of the projects and show all the investment and the partnerships that it takes to make downtown special," she said. "As you can see, the city of Foley is on almost every single one of the awards as the lead or as a partner.

"There are a lot of the Main Street programs that don't get the support like we get from the city. So it's wonderful to have this team Foley and have all the people working together."

Dunmore also mentioned that Foley Main Street recently secured new grants to continue enhancing the Cat Alley art and entertainment space.