The Ponca City Main Street hosted their annual awards banquet on Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Poncan Theatre.

The awards serve to honor program investors and volunteers. This year, awards were nominated by the Main Street Board of Directors and judged by a panel of local leaders and elected officials.

Six awards were handed out in the competitive categories, and five awards in the non-competitive categories.

The winners of the competitive categories include the following:

Business of the Year is an award to recognize a business with a proven success record that is filling in a need in the downtown district. The winner was Speak Now Productions.

New Business of the Year is awarded to a new business that has opened in the district within the last two years and has made a significant positive impact in downtown and on the community. The winner of this award was Cast Iron Co.

Best Digital Influence is awarded to a business or organization that fully utilizes their social media platform to engage the community in everything that makes their business prominent. The winner was MyMediaMatters.

Best Interior Design is awarded to a business or property owner that has made vast improvements to the interior of their building. The winner was Frocks & Fashion.

Best Window Display recognizes a business that goes above and beyond throughout each season to keep their window displays looking updated and current. The winner of this award was Whimsy.

Best Downtown Entertainment goes to the business that contributes to providing amusement and enjoyment in downtown. The winner was Vortex Alley Brewing.

Volunteer of the Year award is given each year to recognize a volunteer who serves on one of the Ponca City Main Street committees and who consistently goes above and beyond what is asked of them, and takes on difficult, time-consuming tasks. This years winner was John Kuhlmann.

The Premier Partner award recognizes a business or organization whose support has been instrumental in the success of the Main Street program, and the downtown community within the past year. The winner was The Rusty Barrell.

Board Member of the Year is awarded to an individual that has been active in Ponca City Main Street within the past year and has made exceptional commitments to the program. The recipient of this award demonstrates leadership and exemplary service to Ponca City Main Street, promoting and working towards the organization’s transformation strategies of art, entertainment, and community connection. The winner was Julie Grigsba.

The Ponca City Art’s Centers Artist of Excellence is an award formed in partnership between the Ponca City Main Street and the Ponca City Art’s Center that is given to honor an artist’s work and to show the organizations’ gratitude for artists contributions. The winner was Elaine Armstrong.

The Main Street Hero award shows gratitude to someone whose contribution to the Ponca City Main Street program and has made a special impact on the future and livelihood of the program. The winner was Kelsey Wagner.

Ponca City Main Street also awarded five young leaders in the community with their “5 Under 40” award. The winners of this award demonstrated significant contributions to the community through their role in business, community involvement, volunteer work, leadership ability, influence and advocacy. The winner for this years 5 Under 40 are Garrett Bowers, Corbin Dewitt, Erica Fetters, Brittany Atauvich, and Edward Dixon.

An after party was held at the Grand Cigar and Lounge following the awards ceremony.