Develop New Albany hands out Pillar Awards

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January 28, 2010

Kopp remains president of nonprofit organization

By DANIEL SUDDEATH The News and Tribune Thu Jan 28, 2010, 10:21 PM EST

Develop New Albany took Thursday evening to remember its strides in 2009 and rally support for what the Indiana Main Street organization hopes will be an even better 2010.

At its annual awards banquet held at the Calumet Club, Realtor and 2009 Develop New Albany president Mike Kopp was again nominated and accepted the head role for 2010.

The executive committee remained basically unchanged, as Susan Kaempfer — noted for her work with the downtown Farmer’s Market — will continue her duties as vice president.

It was a celebratory mood, as Kopp touted the residential and commerce advances made in downtown New Albany in the past year.

Topping the list was the continued popularity of the Floyd County branch of the YMCA of Southern Indiana, the opening of the River City Winery and Bank Street Brewhouse, and the restoration of the White House Centre.

But Develop New Albany member and Floyd County Historian didn’t let Kopp go unnoticed.

“We’ve had a pretty good run this year, and we owe that good run to Mike Kopp,” he said. Develop New Albany is a nonprofit organization that contributes to business growth by contributing financially to grants and projects, holding monthly social meetings to connect entrepreneurs and lobbying on the behalf of downtown establishments.

Kopp said about 50 new businesses have located downtown within the past two years, but he considers it just the start.

“We’re only about one quarter of the way up the ladder,” he said.

One of the most encouraging signs is the renewed interest from people wanting to live downtown, Kopp said.

“We’re looking for more people to come downtown, and more people want to come downtown,” he said, adding he gets about 25 calls a month from people inquiring about somewhere to live downtown.

But the night was reserved for rewarding downtown and uptown individuals and businesses for investing in New Albany. It marked the 11th Pillar Awards ceremony hosted by Develop New Albany, as the ceremony began in 1999.

The winners were:

• Renaissance Award: The recognition goes to an individual, business or organization that made a significant investment in downtown or uptown. For the non-historic building category, the winner was the firm Schad & Palmer. River City Winery took the honor in the historic building category.

• Horizon Award: This category recognizes a new or emerging in existence for five years or less. The award went to the Bank Street Brewhouse.

• Foundation Award: Padgett, Inc. was awarded in this category. The business opened in 1962 in New Albany, and the honor goes to a business that has been a foundation in the downtown or uptown neighborhoods for at least 10 years.

• Achievement Award: This award goes to individuals that made a significant contribution to downtown. John and Claudette Waggoner won the honor based on their renovation of the White House Centre, which features office and retail space. It re-opened last year after being nearly entirely remodeled.

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