The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership held it’s annual meeting last week, reviewing 2022, looking ahead to this year and handing out several awards. Thirty two new businesses opened in the downtown district last year, and two businesses were recognized with the Best New Business of the Year Award. Downtown Partnership director, Amy Hansen, says Fondy Axe Company was opened by Tyler and T.J. Schultz. Hang 10 Poke on South Main Street is owned by Kean O’Brien. The downtown vacancy rate dropped from 10.2% in 2013 to the current 3.7%. There has been an overall private investment of over $140 million since 2004 when Fond du Lac became a Wisconsin Main Street Community. Over this time, the Building Improvement Grant has been awarded to 199 property owners, totaling $1,015,000 in assistance towards the cost of exterior property renovations. These grants have leveraged $7.1 million in private investment projects. The Retlaw Hotel is the winner of the Downtown Fond du Lac Legacy Award presented to a business operating in downtown for more than fifty years. President of the Leb Insurance Group, Mike Leb is the winner of The Friend of Downtown award, Copper Cock Tavern is the recipient of The Exterior Design of the Year, The Leb Insurance Group wins The Interior Design of the Year, and Fond du Lac Festivals Executive Director, Pete Wilke, is The Volunteer of the Year.
