Two Cape Girardeau women received state awards for their downtown revitalization efforts at the Missouri Main Street Conference.

Heather Brooks, assistant city manager, received the Missouri Main Street Outstanding Public Official award and Annie Laurie's Antiques, owned by Laurie Everett, received the Business Excellence Award from the Missouri Main Street organization.

Staff and board members from Old Town Cape attended the Missouri Main Street Conference recently in Kansas City.

"It's really nice at the state level to have that recognition," said Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape. Downtown redevelopment organizations statewide submitted nominees for the Missouri Main Street awards.

This is the second year a Cape Girardeau business has won the business excellence award. Last year's winner was The Southeast Missourian/Rust Communications.

Laurie Everett

"For the community, it raises that awareness of Cape around the state," Mills said. "We have a lot of really good businesses downtown and a lot of great people engaged in our process. It's great to have that recognized."

Brooks joined the Old Town Cape board of directors in 2003 and was named to the city's DREAM Development Team in 2006. She also serves as a resource to the city's Downtown Community Improvement District Steering committee formed in 2009.

Everett purchased Annie Laurie's Antiques in 2006 and since that time has been working to integrate her business into the downtown community. Everett's participation in First Friday, the Old Town Cape Downtown Historic Home and Garden Tour, and her Top Model and Dorm Room Makeover contests and decision to join the Downtown Community Improvement District Steering committee led to her nomination for the award.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

418 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.