Foley Main Street and the City of Foley earned statewide recognition for their work in Downtown Foley, receiving three honors at the 13th annual Main Street Alabama Awards of Excellence banquet in Enterprise last month.

Sponsored by Energy Southeast and the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, the awards were presented at the Foley City Council meeting Sept. 8.

The City of Foley received the Public Space Improvements Award of Excellence for its East Jessamine Street Improvement Project, a cornerstone of the city's downtown revitalization efforts and the culmination of a 15-year vision for a more walkable, connected community.

The project transformed the streets using a "complete street" design that creates a new gateway to downtown while connecting City Hall, the library and Riviera Utilities with Heritage Park and the pedestrian bridge over Alabama 59.

The design features symmetrical walkways centered around the Centennial Clock Tower, decorative lighting and traditional brick architecture. Traffic-calming measures, including mid-block crossings and context-sensitive lane widths, were added to improve resident safety.

Completed in May 2025, the project remained under its $524,965 budget despite adjustments made to accommodate local business owners.

Foley Main Street received the Business Development Award of Excellence for Downtown Forward Skills for Success, a program featuring three workshops led by Auburn University's School of Business staff.

The workshops gave Downtown Foley small businesses and their employees personalized, small-group assistance focused on soft skills and professional development. The program was designed around the idea that personal development can contribute to future job growth, increased customer loyalty and stronger business reputations.

The three workshops drew 90 attendees. Each was offered twice, once in the morning and once in the evening, to give workers more opportunities to attend.

Foley Main Street partnered with First Foley Baptist Church to provide babysitting and used downtown restaurants to provide breakfasts and dinners. All attendees received "This Is Day One: A Practical Guide to Leadership That Matters" by Drew Dudley, which presents leadership as a daily practice based on personal values rather than a role limited to people in formal positions.

Dudley's "Leading with Lollipops" concept teaches that people may not control what they need to accomplish each day, but they are always in control of who they are.

"The night was a wonderful reminder of why this work matters,” Main Street Alabama President and State Coordinator Mary Helmer Wirth said in a news release. "It is an honor for me to present the awards and seeing the pride each community has in its Main Street district was truly inspiring. Our local Main Street programs are doing meaningful work across Alabama, and the Main Street Four-Point Approach continues to help communities build on what makes them special while preserving the places that tell their story.”

Foley's local Main Street Hero recognition went to Darrell Russell and the City of Foley Public Works team for their work and positive impact on Foley Main Street and the broader Foley community.

The team was recognized at the Toast to Heroes Reception, sponsored by Regions Bank, before the banquet. Foley Main Street said the Public Works team is integral to Downtown Foley's success and has helped turn the organization's concepts into reality through its partnership with the group.

“What truly sets the Foley Public Works team apart is not just their workmanship, but their character. Their positive attitude makes them a joy to work with for business owners as well as Foley Main Street. By combining pride with a genuine commitment to public service, the City of Foley Public Works team has earned our Community Leader Award.” said Wes Abrams, president of Foley Main Street.

Alabama State Representative Frances Holk-Jones also surprised the group by presenting two House of Representatives resolutions honoring Russell and the City of Foley Public Works Department for their Hometown Hero recognition and Foley Main Street for its national accreditation.

Main Street Alabama is a nonprofit organization focused on public-private partnerships, community engagement and strategies that create jobs, encourage investment, attract visitors and spur growth in core commercial districts. It builds on the history, culture and attributes of individual communities to create sustainable change.

Main Street Alabama has 36 designated and 34 network communities. A complete list and locations are available at https://mainstreetalabama.org/our-communities.

Foley Main Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to economic vitality, historic preservation and community development in Downtown Foley. Through partnerships, events and business support initiatives, it works to strengthen the downtown district, promote local businesses and enhance the community experience for residents and visitors.

More information is available at https://foleymainstreet.com.