Peabody Main Street Association won five awards during the Main Street Awards of Excellence ceremony Friday, part of the Kansas Downtown Symposium in Hutchinson.

Frank and Janice Woodruff received a Kansas Main Street Community Award recognizing their efforts volunteering in the community.

“Basically, if you need them, they’re there to help,” PMSA Executive Director Shane Marler said.

Marler received the Kansas Main Street Director Recognition award. He said he appreciated the recognition by his peers.

“It was a surprise,” Marler said. “I certainly didn’t expect to win.”

Peabody Main Street also received awards for Excellence in Fundraising, Excellence in Business Development, and Excellence in Business Promotion.

The fundraising award was in recognition of a benefit auction, held every two years to support PMSA. The business development award recognized the economic restructuring committee’s success in bringing high-speed Internet to Peabody. The business promotion award was for the holiday shopping spree.

The awards are a sign that PMSA is making progress in its mission to keep downtown Peabody vibrant, Marler said.

“It reassures that our program is successful,” he said.

Development of the former Baker buildings downtown and a streetscape project are high-priority projects for PMSA in the upcoming year, Marler said. As always, business retention and attraction will also be high on the association’s list of priorities.

Lt. Gov. Troy Findley and Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton announced the winners.

“It’s an honor to recognize these outstanding community development leaders and volunteers,” Findley said. “Tonight’s award winners represent the best of Kansas and our commitment to preserving and revitalizing our historic downtown districts.”