For the Tomahawk Leader

FOND DU LAC – Tomahawk Main Street Inc. (TMS) was among numerous organizations honored for downtown revitalization efforts at the 31st Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony held in Fond du Lac on Friday, April 22.

A release from TMS said the awards ceremony recognized the efforts by Wisconsin Main Street volunteers and staff for their historic preservation and downtown economic development efforts of communities in Wisconsin in 2021.

TMS’s Lawn Dice project received top honors in the Best Creative Fundraising Effort at the event, which was hosted by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

“As stated in the awards nomination packet, this past year and a half or so has been a struggle for fundraisers, along with a struggle to keep kids busy,” TMS stated. “This fundraiser has been good for both of these.”

TMS said a member visited Tomahawk Builders Supply and asked owner Evan Koshak if he would be interested in creating 20 sets of six dice made out of four-inch-by-four-inch timbers.

“As always, Evan said, ‘Sure,’ then generously donated them,” TMS stated.

After Koshak made the dice, two local business owners and their grandkids painted dots on the dice and printed off instructions for Yahtzee and Farkle, creating fun game sets for families.

“Multiple businesses sold these sets to help our downtown,” TMS said. “The buyers of these sets of yard dice are typically families and kids, which means smiles on their faces. It seems like a small fundraiser, but it continues to be ongoing, putting smiles on so many faces. Tomahawk is a community for people to come to relax and spend time outdoors with their families; this little fundraiser is a part of that.”

TMS said the dice fundraiser was part of its goal to raise $10,000.00 for new street garbage receptacles, adding that individuals and organizations have donated to the cause.

“In spring of 2022, Tomahawk Main Street will have them all in place thanks to the generosity of Evan, our community, and our supporters,” TMS stated.

Koshak was also honored at the event, receiving the Corporate Supporter Award.

Koshak

“Evan is a true believer in the Tomahawk Main Street organization and his hometown of Tomahawk, Wis.,” Main Street said. “He has been the Chair of our Main Street Design Committee since the beginning. He was one of the Founders of the Bricks and Mortar account that we hold to help out businesses. The intent of this fund is for improvements to buildings, but has also helped our business during COVID. Evan continues to give a portion of his sales to our Bricks and Mortar Fund, even though his business is not located in our BID district. Evan is there every time we ask.”

TMS noted that Koshak also installs and takes down the organization’s street benches each year.

“We reach out to Evan for so many things, including the making of 200 sets of wood dice for our Yard Dice fundraiser, 150 six-inch-by-six-inch wooden pumpkins for our Fall Fest, a wood post for our drop box, and…we could go on forever,” TMS said. “Evan never says no, and Tomahawk Main Street loves him for that, as well as for all the things he does for our beautiful community, through our organization, the Chamber of Commerce, his church, and so many others. Evan is a true inspiration for all of us.”

Along with TMS and Koshak, Jeffrey Johnson was also honored during the ceremony as one of the recipients of the Volunteer of the Year award.

“’Ask, and you shall receive’ is a motto in which Jeffrey lives by,” TMS said. “Tomahawk Main Street is grateful to Jeffrey, as no matter what we ask, the answer is always ‘Yes!’ Never has Jeffrey shied away from a project, event or duty. Jeffrey, with his smile in place and a positive, ‘never give up’ attitude makes Jeffrey a shining example of a downtown Volunteer of the Year. We couldn’t do it without friends like him, and we hope he knows how much we appreciate all he does for us.”

“WEDC congratulates Tomahawk Main Street for its outstanding efforts to revitalize and improve downtown,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “A vibrant downtown is critical to a community’s overall economic development as well as the quality of life for its residents, and we commend Tomahawk Main Street for being among the best in the state when it comes to strengthening its downtown.”

Pictured, from left to right: Jennifer Turkiewicz, Tomahawk Main Street (TMS) Executive Director; Jeffrey Johnson, TMS Volunteer; Paula Blom, TMS Treasurer; and Andrea Krueger, TMS Board President. Photos courtesy of TMS.

About Wisconsin Main Street

Wisconsin Main Street is a community development program administered by WEDC that targets Wisconsin’s historic commercial districts. WEDC provides technical support and training to the 34 Main Street communities and 83 Connect Communities to help them revitalize their business districts based on guidelines developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Since the program’s inception in 1987, Wisconsin Main Street community projects have resulted in the creation of more than 3,000 new businesses and more than 16,000 net new jobs. In addition, more than $2.5 billion in public and private investment has occurred in Wisconsin Main Street communities.

During fiscal year 2021, despite suffering one of the most dramatic economic declines in recent history, Wisconsin Main Street communities were responsible for the creation of an estimated 357 net new jobs and 134 net new businesses in the state. Nearly 25,000 volunteer hours were dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities around the state.

TMS has been part of the Wisconsin Main Street Program since 2008.

“We are so excited to have been recognized for all the efforts our Director, Board, and Volunteers put into the Main Street organization, and we could not be successful without the backing of our community,” TMS stated. “We greatly appreciate your continued support.”