Old Town Cape earns triple recognition from Missouri Main Street Connection

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Old Town Cape Inc. has received three awards from Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) for its efforts in historic preservation, business recruitment and placemaking.

The organization received the Best Historic Preservation Project Award for the redevelopment of the Buckner-Ragsdale Event Center, a former department store that had been vacant for years.

Old Town Cape also received the Main Street Business Recruitment, Accredited Tier Award for its efforts to revitalize downtown Cape Girardeau. The organization has successfully recruited businesses to the area, helping to reduce the vacancy rate to 20%.

Additionally, Old Town Cape received the Small-Scale Placemaking Activity, Accredited Tier Award for its Community Garden, a 1,000-square-foot herb garden that has become a community treasure. The garden supports community connectivity and small businesses and produces fresh herbs for local food banks and restaurants.

The awards were presented during Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference’s Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony and Dinner in St. Charles.