Archive: Business & Technology

(Ithaca, NY) The Downtown Ithaca Alliance announced the winners of its 2008 Annual Awards. The awards are given to people and organizations who’ve demonstrated exemplary support and/or service to downtown Ithaca during the past year. This year’s recipients will be honored at the Downtown Alliance’s 2008 annual dinner Tuesday at the downtown Ithaca Holiday Inn, 222 S. Cayuga Street.

The 2008 recipients were honored after a keynote address by Ithaca College President Dr. Thomas Rochon, titled “The Importance of a Strong Downtown: An Ithaca College Perspective”. The address was be one of Rochon’s first public speeches since becoming President of Ithaca College earlier this year.

2008 Downtown Ithaca Special Award – Handwork Cooperative Craft Gallery
“The Rebuilding of Handwork” Handwork Cooperative Craft Gallery was damaged by fire earlier this year, which forced it to move into temporary quarters while its original building was restored. Handwork is now back in its original location and continues to be a favorite destination of downtown visitors and shoppers.
 
2008 Downtown Ithaca Public Employee of the Year – Julie Conley-Holcomb
As the City Clerk for the City of Ithaca, Ms Conley-Holcomb plays a crucial role in the life of downtown Ithaca. The City Clerk oversees permitting of events and activities on the Ithaca Commons and many of the other activities that take place in downtown Ithaca’s public places. Ms Conley-Holcomb has also taken a leadership role with the City of Ithaca on issues related to downtown.
 
2008 Downtown Ithaca Retailer of the Year – Moosewood Restaurant
A long-established downtown business, Moosewood is being recognized this year as much for its impact on tourism and visitation, as for its longevity. Moosewood’s reputation, combined with its marketing efforts, drives traffic into downtown Ithaca as much as any other business. Additionally, tourism is becoming increasingly important to downtown and many people stop in downtown specifically to dine at Moosewood.
 
2008 Downtown Ithaca Small Business of the Year - Concept Systems Incorporated
Concept Systems Inc. is being recognized both for its commitment to being a downtown Ithaca employer and for making long-term investments in downtown. The D.I.A. particularly wanted to recognize Concept Systems for its outstanding renovation of 136 The Commons. Concept Systems Inc. is a cutting edge technology firm whose actions send a message to other, similar companies that downtown Ithaca is a good place for business to invest in.
 
2008 Downtown Ithaca Development of the Year – Cayuga Place Apartments
Cayuga Place on Green Street and its developers, Bloomfield/Schon Partners are being recognized for the completion of a major downtown Ithaca project…. Cayuga Place, which is part of the larger Cayuga Green project. This speed and timeliness with which the building was constructed and the 68 units in it were then rented and occupied, represents an outstanding effort on the part of Bloomfield/Schon. The D.I.A. feels strongly that both are accomplishments worthy of recognition.
 
2008 Downtown Ithaca Alliance Board Member of the Year - Mack Travis
Mr. Travis is a past President of the D.I.A. Board of Directors, one of its founding members and currently chairs the Board’s Business Retention and Development Committee. Aside from everything Mr. Travis has done for the community through his projects and work, he continues to take a leadership role in helping the D.I.A. with key community projects such as the State Theater, downtown marketing, and business recruitment. Mr. Travis is being presented with this award as a thank-you not just for his development projects, but for his many hours of volunteer service as well.
 
2008 Downtown Ithaca Volunteer of the Year – Deirdre Kurzweil, WB&A Market Research
Ms Kurzwell and her entire firm provided critical market research to the D.I.A. on a pro- bono basis this year. Ms Kurzwell designed surveys and undertook them as training project on behalf of the Alliance. The data and results enabled the D.I.A. to obtain critically important information about downtown Ithaca, our community and the people who use it. The information will be used to help market downtown locally and regionally, as well as to recruit new businesses and retailers in downtown.

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