Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has recognized volunteers and businesses in the city’s Main Streets program, the nation’s first urban, multi-district program for small businesses.
Boston Main Streets provides funding and technical assistance to 19 neighborhood-based Main Streets districts throughout Boston and has served as a national model to urban areas seeking to revitalize neighborhood commercial districts, according to a statement.
The 14th annual awards night was held at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Awards were presented to the 2010 Boston Main Streets Volunteers and Businesses of the Year.
The mayor recognized hundreds of volunteers that donated more that 21,000 hours of time to Boston Main Streets.
The following were named "outstanding volunteers:"
- Allston Village Main Streets – Derrick Choi
- Bowdoin/Geneva Main Streets – Lt. Kenneth MacMaster (Bowdoin-Geneva Safe Street Team)
- Brighton Main Streets – Joseph Fenton
- Chinatown Main Street – Albert Li
- Dudley Square Main Streets – Joseph Warren (accepting for her late husband, Mrs. Martha Warren)
- East Boston Main Streets – Dino Manca
- Egleston Square Main Street – Franklin Park Coalition – Michael Watts
- Fields Corner Main Street – Nancy Cahill
- Four Corners Main Street – Jamaal Leek
- Greater Grove Hall Main Streets – Bruce Bickerstaff
- Hyde Jackson Square Main Street – Sara Lamitie
- Hyde Park Main Streets – Suzzette Waters
- JP Centre/South Main Streets – Audrey Gallagher
- Mission Hill Main Streets – Theresa Parks
- Roslindale Village Main Street – Michael Monahan (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103)
- St. Mark’s Area Main Street – Tim Deihl
- Upham’s Corner Main Street – Valentine Pajer
- Washington Gateway Main Street – Todd Katzman
- West Roxbury Main Streets – Mike Loconto
In the past year, 152 new businesses opened and 623 jobs were added across the 19 districts; more than 1,200 small businesses received financial or technical assistance through the program, and 95 perecnt of Boston Main Street district storefronts are currently occupied.
The following were named "outstanding businesses:"
- Allston Village Main Streets – Harpers Ferry
- Bowdoin/Geneva Main Streets – Ashley Breakfast Shoppe
- Brighton Main Streets – Athan’s European Bakery
- Chinatown Main Street – Great Taste Bakery and Restaurant
- Dudley Square Main Streets – Dudley Street Enterprises
- East Boston Main Streets – Hong Kong Harbor Chinese Restaurant
- Egleston Square Main Street – La Peraviana Market
- Fields Corner Main Street – Century 21, Cahill Associates
- Four Corners Main Street – Gomez Gas/Rosa’s Kitchen
- Greater Grove Hall Main Streets – Allan’s Formalwear
- Hyde Park Main Streets – PDM Associates
- Hyde Jackson Square Main Street – Sonia’s Bridal Boutique
- JP Centre/South Main Streets – James’s Gate Restaurant & Pub
- Mission Hill Main Streets – The Crossing
- Roslindale Village Main Street – Roslindale Hardware
- St. Mark’s Area Main Street – Wainwright Bank
- Upham’s Corner Main Street – Brothers Supermarket II
- Washington Gateway Main Street – Bark Place
- West Roxbury Main Streets – Blanchards Wines & Spirits
