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News

Sue Mundy Presented With Main Street Community Mobilization Award

May 1 , 2024, St. Paul – This year’s Main Street Community Mobilization Award was granted to Wabash artist Sue Mundy at the Minnesota Main Streets State Conference in Owatonna.

Main Street Conference 2024Celebrating each of the Four Points (Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, Promotion) of the Main Street Approach, Minnesota Main Streets awards a person who has been a catalyst for major change in their district. For her positive effect in Organization, Sue Munday was honored not only for her efforts on Wabasha Main Street’s “Public Places are Sacred Spaces” Mural, but also for her work on many projects and installations in Wabasha’s downtown. With her exceptional community leadership, managing 40+ individual volunteers and more than 750 hours of community volunteerism including the planning, design, painting, and presenting of each mural, Mundy has collaborated with Wabasha’s Main Street Program to steward funding from the Artists on Main Street program, Blandin Foundation, Southeast Minnesota Arts Council, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Wabasha-Kellogg Area Community Foundation, and more than 15 corporate and individual donors. Additionally, there were collaborations on two mural compositions with Wabasha poet Pam Larson, and Minnesota artists Jalayahraven Whitecloud and Inkpa Mani.

Wabasha Mayor Emily Duran shared, “Sue is a Main Street superstar, at one time owning a downtown gallery and studio herself in a building in the Nationally Registered Historic Wabasha Commercial District. Now as an accomplished artist, project collaborator, educator, activist, and volunteer manager, she has led multiple simultaneous major placemaking initiatives which significantly revitalize and transform both public and private spaces within our historic downtown.”

The Main Street approach to Organization involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement, and resources for the district. The Community Mobilization Award recognizes an event or initiative in which Main Street worked in tandem with public and private district stakeholders to make their downtowns better places.

CONTACT:
Mary Flicek, Wabasha Main Street Director, Wabasha Main Street.

Shannon Laing, Minnesota Main Streets Manager
Rethos
shannon@rethos.org
651.377.8069

About Rethos 

Rethos, formerly the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose board, staff, and partners work nationwide together to protect and promote communities shared environment and culture. The Minnesota Main Streets program at Rethos helps cities maximize both their people and built assets for economic vitality.  Minnesota Main Streets is a Main Street America™ Coordinating Program and provides local Main Street communities with the training, tools, information, and networking they need to reinvigorate their downtown districts. More at https://www.rethos.org.

Wabasha Celebrates 8th Annual Shop Small Saturday November 25, 2023

Small Business Saturday 2023

Wabasha Main Street celebrates the 2023 holiday season and 14th Annual Small Business Saturday® by promoting Shop Local, Dine Local events as an American Express® Neighborhood Champion.

Wabasha, MN November 15, 2023. Wabasha Main Street announced today that, as a member of the American Express® Neighborhood Champion Program, it will be partnering with American Express again for its 8th year in promoting Shop Small, Shop Local this Holiday Season as part of Small Business Saturday, which takes place on Nov 25th and all holiday season long. Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday celebrates the impact small businesses have on communities across the country.

Wabasha Main Street encourages you to Shop Local, Dine Local and Stay Local first either in person, curbside, delivery, online or virtually. Supporting local helps keep these businesses alive during the holidays and all year long.

In order to drive shoppers to Shop Small® this Nov 25th, Wabasha Main Street is participating in the American Express® Neighborhood Champion Program to spotlight small businesses and the impact they have on communities.

According to the 2019 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, 97% of consumers who shopped on Small Business Saturday agree that small businesses are essential to their community and 95% reported the day makes them want to shop or eat at small, independently-owned
businesses all year long, not just during the holiday season.

Wabasha Main Street has been hosting Shop Small Saturday for the past 7 years. This year’s event will have more participating merchants and local businesses promoting Holiday sales, registrations for door prizes and open houses as well as giving away free Shop Small gifts and swag to customers as a way to thank them for shopping local first.

See our Facebook page and Instagram account for more business highlights and events. Follow the Wabasha Main Street at wabashamainstreet.org.

Merchants and consumers can learn more about Shop Small, Small Business Saturday and how to get involved by visiting ShopSmall.com

Contact:
Mary E. Flicek, Wabasha Main Street Director 651-380-9035
wabashamainstreet@gmail.com

“Public Places are Sacred Spaces” Mural

A new mural project is complete in Wabasha, MN! Local artist, Sue Mundy designed a 10′ by 55′ foot mural located on the back of the Hill’s Hardware Hank overlooking the new amphitheater and the Mississippi River. Part of this activity is made possible through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council in cooperation with a private foundation.

The mural is complete and the artists have signed it. We are still taking donations and will announce a Public invitation to the dedication very soon.

Follow this project on the Wabasha Main Street Facebook Page.

Public Places Mural
Public Places Mural
Public Places Mural

Interested in Supporting this Project?

Wabasha is Open for Business

Construction is still underway but downtown businesses are still open! Use the directory of downtown businesses to find parking options.

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2023 Street & Utility Reconstruction Update – January 23, 2023

Project Update
A preliminary phasing plan has been developed for the project to aid in managing access during construction. The specific timing of each phase is dependent on the constructor’s schedule of work. Once the contractor is selected in the spring more information on specific timing of phasing will be provided.

Reminder: We encourage businesses that front the project area to fill out the Business Questionnaire if this information has not been provided yet.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions to Katy Gehler, Katy.Gehler@bolton-menk.com or at (507) 513-9066.

Mayor Tree Lighting and Mr. & Mrs. Santa Saturday – December 3rd

Tree Lighting Event 2022

Wabasha Main Street has announced their kick off to the holidays with a great lineup of Christmas activities for Wabasha on December 3rd. They have added many more events for you and your family and included highlighting the local organizations, churches and businesses celebrating the season with Open Houses and Holiday Sales – inviting you to spend the entire day downtown and at Heritage Park.

Perhaps check out a Bazaar or Cookie Sale, grab lunch at a local restaurant or coffee and head over to Heritage Park for the Annual Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa event under the bridge at Heritage Park downtown. Come for any or all events and spend the day all over town during Wabasha’s Christmas Day- everyone is invited!!!

This year’s events include: Annual Christmas Bazaar at UCC from 8:00am-1:00pm, along with Faith Lutheran’s Cookies, Candy & Crafts Sale from 9:00am-3:00pm. There will be Holiday Shopping specials and Open Houses all over town including: Turning Waters B & B&B, Local World Gallery, Hoppy Girl Brewing, Driftless Books, , LARK Toys, SVJ Creatives, National Eagle Center, Barb’s Breakery, and Hill’s Hardware.

Herb + Arrow (across from Heritage Park) is offering again this year an Outdoor Market from 10:00am – 3:00pm for local crafters and vendors. The festivities continue at Heritage Park at 3:30 cocoa and cookies and Santa & Mrs. Claus visits from 4:30- 5:30.

Mayor Emily Durand will have the honors of lighting up the City Christmas Tree at 5:30. Fire pits will warm your toes and hot beverages will be provided for all sponsored by Gwaltney Group RE/Max Results at Old City Hall. Please join us for a festive day in Wabasha.

For more details see: www.wabashamainstreet.org. Or find us on Facebook & Instagram for updates of Holiday events this season.