Main Street Working Group Receives Award

The CT Main Street Center presented the members of the Main Street Working Group with the 2022 Jack Shannahan Award for Public Service. The Jack Shannahan Award for Public Service annually recognizes individuals for their dedication to improving the downtown areas in their community.

The co-chairs of the working group - State Representatives Jane Garibay (D-Windsor, Windsor Locks), Jennifer Leeper (D- Fairfield, Southport), Quentin "Q" Williams (D- Middletown) – were honored by this recognition.

"Thank you to the CT Main Street Center for this award. The original goal of the Main Street Working Group was to advocate for revitalization in our downtown areas. However, because the pandemic financially destroyed so many of the beloved small businesses in our community, we are now focusing on rebuilding. My fellow co-chairs and I have worked diligently to ensure that our communities have the resources available to rebuild and recover. We have fought on the behalf of small businesses and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future," said Rep. Garibay.

“I am so honored to receive the Jack Shannahan Award for Public Service from the Connecticut Main Street Center, alongside my fellow co-chairs of the Main Street Working Group, Representatives Garibay and Williams. Our main streets are central to the vibrancy of our communities, serving as a space for people to come together and for small businesses to thrive,” said Rep. Leeper. “Over the past two years, the Main Street Working Group has met with downtown professionals and business district leaders to consider policy initiatives that best support our downtowns. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished and look forward to the continued work.”

"Receiving this award is very significant for us because it effectively represents the essence of what this working group is about. We are working together to restore and invigorate our downtown areas because they are the heart of our cities and towns. I am proud of the progress we are making and look forward to what's ahead as we continue to prioritize our Main Streets. Thank you to the CT Main Street Center for recognizing our efforts and presenting us with his award," said Rep. Williams

The Main Street Working Group is a legislative working group that focuses on promoting downtown development throughout the state. The group pushes for legislation and connects local leaders to the resources that they need to improve the downtown portions of their communities.