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Clouds that threatened to dampen our spirits cleared in time for us to enjoy a very pleasant cookout at our August 2019 PDA meeting.
Vice President and emcee Mike Carlisle presented a Shining Star award to Bryan of Meineke Car Care Center. The business has put a fresh new exterior on their building at 6th and Grand. Meineke's District Manager Dwayne Duncan also attended the 5:30 p.m. meeting which was held on the patio at the Gold Dust Saloon. Mayor Nick Gradisar answered tough questions about the proposed acquisition of the local electric utility, the street maintenance fees charged to homeowners and businesses in the City and about an ordinance requiring parking lot owners to post large signs warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owners expense. 
June PDA meeting emcee Lee Gladney presented a Shining Star award to Kristin Martinez of the Courtyard by Marriott. The hotel has undergone an extensive remodeling.
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Pueblo Downtown Association
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Right: May meeting attendees watch as Black Hills Energy spokesman John Vigil addresses the proposed City of Pueblo purchase of Pueblo's electric utility.
Below: Shining Stars were awarded to the Pueblo Convention Center, Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority and the Home of Heroes Association. 
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Our April 2019 meeting was held at the Watertower Place complex. Developer Ryan McWilliams outlined plans for the Watertower development. He was joined by Denver development guru Dana Crawford, Antwon Burton, a great Pueblo supporter and former Denver Bronco, and the FattE bike entrepreneurs.
Our October 2016 Shining Star was presented to the Leadership Pueblo 2016 class. Their class project was refurbishing the Pueblo Soup Kitchen.
T. J. Wright presents Shining Star award for property improvement to owners of Pueblo Imports on W. 4th St.
Officer Brandon Beauvais addresses October meeting.
Dr. Mike Wakefield presented ideas for a high tech business incubator proposed for the basement (Riverwalk level) of the PBR building. The July meeting was held in the historic Elks Lodge No. 90 building.
A Shining Star award was presented in July to P.S., I Love You Flowers & Gifts for their lovely and creative treatment of the exterior of the former Taco Bell building at 8th & Santa Fe. P.S., I Love You has since joined the Pueblo Downtown Association. It's great to have a flower & gift shop downtown!
D.A. Jeff Chostner outlined his plan to increase police presence in Pueblo. The May 2016 meeting was held at Willie's BBQ on West 13th Street.
Our PDA slide show running at Chostner's left promoted Downtown Madness, the PDA restaurant promotion. Early in June, it was announced that Willie's came in second in the tournament-style competition. 
Gus Sandstrom presented Pueblo's Riverwalk expansion plans at the April 2016 meeting.
Above:
Tammy Fesmire called the April meeting to order. Donna's All Seasons Catering hosted the event. 
Team members John Myers, Mike Carlisle, Kim Kock, Peggy Willcox and T.J. Wright donned basketball jerseys and scored with their presentation of our bracket-style Downtown Madness restaurant promotion at the March 2016 meeting at Angelo's Pizza.
June 1 update: Downtown Madness goals have been exceeded as hundreds of diners have cast ballots for their favorites of the "Eat 16", "Great Ate" and now the "Final Fork" participating restaurants. The championship round wrapped up May 31st. The winner was Gray's Coors Tavern. Runner-up was Willie's BBQ. 
Kerry Gladney and Tom Bruss start the November 2015 meeting in the Bernstein Room at the Pueblo Convention Center.
October meeting at Sangre de Cristo Arts Center.
Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace informs our October meeting about the ways funds raised by a proposed new marijuana tax would enhance our communities.
Our 2014 Downtowner Awards were presented to
Sheriff Kirk Taylor, Pueblo city employee Eileen Boughton, Terry Baughman, Beth Gladney and board member April Kasza at the January 2015 meeting. |
At the February 2017 meeting, Paulette Stuart and Don Gray filled us in on plans for the upcoming Medal of Honor Recipients Convention.
Jamie Burt of Sunflower Bank, Mike Carlisle and T.J. Wright draw names to choose restaurant pairings for our 2017 Downtown Madness restaurant promotion.
The Gray family has owned and operated Gray's Coors Tavern for many years. They were winners of last year's Downtown Madness promotion. Mary participated in our Dancing with the Pueblo Starz competition. To show our appreciation for their support, we were happy to name them 2017 Downtowner of the Year for Business.
T. J. Wright of ABC Bank created and spearheaded our successful Downtown Madness promotion last spring. He'll be leading the team for the new and improved 2017 Madness event. Thanks T. J.! You deserve the PDA Board Member Downtowner of the Year Award.
Many thanks to our go-to guy Bill Zwick. Bill is Capital Projects Manager for the City of Pueblo and has helped us with many of our outdoor enhancement projects. He received our 2017 Downtowner of the Year for Government.
The Showroom at Rampart Supply received our 2017 Downtowner Award for Property Improvement for their beautiful store at 4th & Santa Fe.
Our unending thanks to the Pueblo County Historical Society for their assistance and the use of their photos for our Historic Downtown calendars, banners, etc. We were happy to present them with the 2017 Downtowner Award for Community Service.
Our January 2017 meeting was held at Brues Alehouse. A good crowd turned out for the annual Downtowner of the Year awards. Winners are pictured above.
Renewed Wholesale at South Main and Abriendo received our Shining Star property improvement award for January 2017. Congratulations to the Weber family! 
Our 2015 Downtowners of the Year were
Claudia Smith, exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge #90 City Manager Sam Azad PDA Board Member Mike Carlisle Mike Cafasso on behalf of St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center John Carleo, owner of Old Towne Carriage House and Broadway Cup and Cork 
Derrick Martinez was awarded the Shining Star for Property Improvement for Express Employment Professionals for the beautiful redo of their new location on West 6th Street. Below, Tammy Fesmire and Peggy Willcox emceed our January meeting. We were happy to present a Shining Star award and our Downtowners of the Year awards. 
Black Hills Energy explained their policies at our August 2016 breakfast meeting which was moved inside from the Gray's Coors Tavern patio when the morning was chilly. We missed the opportunity to enjoy breakfast outdoors, but, as always, the food was delicious. Gray's Coors Tavern was the winner of our spring Downtown Madness competition.
Beautiful Mineral Palace Park was the site for July's change-of-pace meeting. Parks department representatives pointed out unique or unusual tree and plant specimens. 
Mike Carlisle and John Myers, hosts for the monthly meeting, presented the Shining Star award to Joe Aldaz, director of the Center for American Values. The organization decorated the Waterfront Building with American flags for the Memorial Day holiday.
Chief Luis Velez outlined the use of body cameras by the PPD. |
