This special award started in 2020 is given to a local Main Street Director who goes over and beyond to help his or her fellow directors and community and exemplifies the character and qualities it takes to lead and manage a successful Main Street program. This award is selected by fellow Main Street Directors who nominate and vote for this award at the annual Directors’ Retreat.

 

Winner: Polly Rosenblatt, Woodville/Wilkinson County Main Street Association

Accepting in her loving memory: Tom Rosenblatt, Polly’s husband

 

A native of Kentucky, Polly Rosenblatt was a longtime resident of Fort Adams, Mississippi where she faithfully served as the Director of the Woodville/Wilkinson County Main Street Association for the last 17 years. Polly steered one of the smallest Main Street programs in Mississippi with Woodville’s population being less than 1,000, but she spearheaded great achievements through her resourcefulness for this historic, rural community in southwest Mississippi.

 

Some of these projects included organizing the award-winning and long-running Woodville Deer & Wildlife Festival that promoted Woodville’s cultural and artistic heritage, helping secure a Mississippi Welcome Center in Woodville in 2011, completing the award-winning historic rehabilitation of Polk’s Meat Market and the Woodville Arts Park in downtown that now serves as the Downtown Visitors Center, facilitating a downtown Farmer's Market, launching the award-winning Bicentennial Film, and providing support and resources to local businesses. Polly successfully wrote and received numerous grants that have boosted the small Main Street program’s budget, totaling more than $6.7 million in public and private re-investment since 2004 when the program began. Polly’s greatest joy was her family; she was married to Tom Rosenblatt for 45 years and they have three grown children and six wonderful grandchildren.

 

Even though the last couple of years, Polly had to cut down on her Main Street work because of her illness, she remained involved and continued to be a resource and encouragement to other Main Street directors. This past January, Main Street directors voted for her to receive the Heart of Main Street Award this year. The staff was able to share this happy news with Polly before her passing in March. She was so honored to be chosen by her fellow Main Street directors who she loved and respected. The Main Street family wishes to honor Polly’s life and work by presenting the Heart of Main Street Award to her husband, Tom. Thank you for sharing Polly with us over the last 17 years. Her work and legacy with Main Street will live on!