LARAMIE main street named 2022 gamsa semifinalist

Laramie, Wyo – Congratulations to the Laramie Main Street Alliance (LMSA) for being named a Semifinalist for the 2022 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) from Main Street America!

“Laramie has always been a shining example of what a Main Street program can be, and to have them be the fourth Wyoming Main Street community recognized by GAMSA is a great honor,” said Wyoming Main Street Program Manager Kayla Kler.

LMSA is a vibrant pocket of arts and culture and its small but mighty approach to community development and longstanding commitment to arts, culture, and economic vitality promises a bright future for the city.

“I am thrilled that downtown is being celebrated at a national level for the amazing work our community does in supporting its mom and pop businesses on Main Street,” LMSA Executive Director Trey Sherwood said.

LMSA was founded in 2005 by local volunteers interested in utilizing Main Street America’s Four Point Approach to downtown development. In their application, they identified a desire to “create a formal organizational structure” to provide leadership and manpower necessary to implement plans and maintain a strong foundation for downtown revitalization.” Since 2005, LMSA has been a steward of downtown projects including the Laramie Mural Project, Downtown Farmer’s Market, Laramie Brewfest, downtown bike racks, as well as the more recent payroll grants, Cowboy Cash, and safe shopping initiatives.

“The City of Laramie has worked closely with LMSA since their start in 2005. This national recognition is an honor for the whole community and shows what we can accomplish when we work together” Laramie City Manager, Janine Jordan said.

“The University of Wyoming and LMSA have developed a rich and positive town-gown collaboration which brings UW students downtown.” Said Jean A. Garrison, Ph.D., Professor,  Co-Director of Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program.

GAMSA semifinalists were selected from a nationwide pool of accredited Main Street America applicants based on their successful and innovative uses of the Main Street Approach™. Criteria for winning includes strength of the Main Street program in spurring community transformation, commitment to historic preservation, innovative programming, implementation of cross-sector partnerships, community outreach and stakeholder engagement, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. More than 100 communities have been recognized as winners since the award’s inception in 1995.

“This honor is in large part because of our collaboration with downtown business owners, the City of Laramie, University of Wyoming, and the generous spirit of volunteerism inherent in our community.  And, we share this recognition with past and present donors and volunteers who have invested in downtown’s beautification, preservation, economic and social vitality,” Sherwood said.

The 2022 GAMSA winners will be announced on May 16, 2022, at the Main Street Now Conference in Richmond, Virginia.