Strater Hotel, Durango         Jay Cimano Park, Trinidad      Old Town Lofts, Fort Collins
             2008 Winner                            2007 Winner                       2007 Winner

Winning projects have been visionary and creative problem-solving solutions accomplished through local grassroots efforts, strong partnerships and innovation. Past winning projects have shown a commitment to traditional and new urban concepts, mixed-use development, historic preservation, public space enhancement and sustainable technology. Some successful projects have combined “best practices” from more than one discipline, often becoming the catalyst for other development in the community.

Applicant or at least one project partner must be a DCI member. The submitting organization must have played a key role in the development, implementation and overall success of the project. Project must have been completed between September 1, 2008 and June 30, 2010. Please review the category descriptions carefully before selecting your nomination's category.

Nominations:

--Must be received by 5 PM on Monday, July 26, 2010

--Must include $120 entry fee payable to Downtown Colorado, Inc.

--Are considered property of DCI and will not be returned

--Will be disqualified if late or incomplete

--Can only be nominated for one category

--Must be accompanied by 5 copies each of the Entry Form, Nomination Narrative and collateral material as required

--Narrative will be no more than 3 pages, double-spaced in 12-point type; will have the name of the project, category and city at the top of each page; and each copy of Narrative will be unbound, 3-hole punched and affixed with paper clip.

--Must include a CD with 5–10 high quality JPEG photographs that highlight the project or impacts of the project. Because images may be reproduced in future publications of DCI, please do not send copyrighted images without permission.

All nominees will be notified by mail whether or not entry is a finalist. Winners will not be announced publicly until the Governor’s Awards for Downtown Excellence Gala. Finalist or finalist designee is requested to attend both the finalist breakfast and gala dinner in Glenwood Springs on September 23, 2010.

Winners will also be featured in a press release and on the Downtown Colorado Inc. web site.

Downtown Colorado, Inc. is committed to assisting communities throughout Colorado with their revitalization through education, technical assistance, and advocacy. Our program partners include The Colorado State Historical Fund, The National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Colorado Department of Local Affairs as well as other organizations. With these partnerships we have been able to provide quality programs since 1982. For more information about our organization visit our website: www.downtowncoloradoinc.org or call 303 282-0625.

Past Finalists and Winners:

2009 Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence Program

Nominations Deadline
Nominations must be received by Downtown Colorado, Inc., 240 South Broadway, Ste. 201, Denver, CO 80209, by July 26, 2010 at 5 p.m.

Judging
A jury of representatives from the sponsoring organizations and other professionals will review the awards nominations according to how the projects meet the criteria described under each of the seven award categories as well as the following criteria.

Impact: Achieves maximum impact on a downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization effort.

Innovation: Offers an innovative or unique approach to a downtown or neighborhood business district development or management challenge.

Complements Local Assets: Reinforces and capitalizes on the unique assets of the local community.

Replication: Projects that represent an idea, process or solution that may be replicated in other communities are especially desirable.

Use of Local Resources: Demonstrates efficient use of local resources, including people power, partnerships and funding. 

The jury reserves the right to eliminate categories if a reasonable number of worthy nominations have not been submitted in a given category. The jury may move a project to a different category if it makes it more competitive.