HUDSON – Downtown Hudson is one step closer to winning $25,000 after it advanced to the next round of the “America’s Main Street competition.”
The Hudson Business Improvement District celebrated this news on Tuesday.
“Congratulations to us!” it noted in a statement on social media.”
Hudson was initially one of 216 nominees to this national contest, which seeks to rank the nation’s top downtown communities.
Hudson made the contest’s first cut, which whittled the field down to 25 quarterfinalists. This week, Hudson advanced again, now standing as one of just 10 semifinalists.
“We got to this point only because everyone took the time to vote and get us there,” the Business Improvement District wrote. “Now we wait.”
The contest is run by Independent We Stand, a national business organization.
The winning downtown area will get $25,000, shopping sprees and a certificate for $1,000 of equipment from power tool company STIHL.
The Business Improvement District said this week that the winner of this contest will be announced on Dec. 20.
“We will let you know as soon as we hear anything,” they concluded. “Thank you for all that you did to help! Even if we don’t win, we’ve proven that our Downtown is one of the very best!”
All this, indeed, comes as Hudson continues to redevelop and improve its downtown area.
These efforts have earned Hudson praise in recent years as the downtown area has flourished.
Efforts now continue through local government initiatives, through the work of groups like the Business Improvement District, and through projects supported by the state.
“Over the past 10 plus years, there’s been a vision by Hudson officials to transform downtown Hudson, as well as some very forward thinking business owners and entrepreneurs,” Sen. Jamie Eldridge said in a recent conversation with the Community Advocate. “That has meant replacing bridges. That has meant upgrading roads. That has meant completing redoing the rotary as well as sort of better connecting to the river passing through downtown Hudson.”
“If you look at it now, it’s really seen a renaissance,” he continued.