DHI Hosts Annual Meeting and Downtown Awards

By Abigail Harrison, DHI Communications Coordinator

Downtown Huntsville, Inc. hosted its 2024 Annual Meeting and Downtown Awards event at Campus 805’s Stone Event Center on February 21, 2024. This event was presented by Bank Independent.

The Downtown Awards are an important part of our Annual Meeting that recognizes businesses, events, and projects that had a profound impact on Downtown Huntsville districts in the past year.

The awards represent a vote of the public on what makes Downtown Huntsville great. Hville Blast hosted the voting for the 2023 Downtown Awards, and it received over 2,500 respondents.

Pearl Skin Aesthetics won the vote for Best New Business, which recognizes a new downtown business that is already making waves in the community.

Founded in 2023 by Renatta Pearl Keith, Pearl Skin Aesthetics is a medical spa that believes in providing an inclusive, safe skincare experience for all. Their expertise encompasses a wide range of skincare techniques, including advanced laser treatments, facial rejuvenation, and personalized skincare regimens.

Jazz in the Park took home Event of the Year, which recognizes an event that brought a vibrant atmosphere to downtown in 2023.

Jazz in the Park began as a collaboration between the City of Huntsville’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Magic City Smooth Jazz to provide a free, high-quality jazz concert series featuring local, regional, and national artists. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, but is now back and better than ever.

Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium won the vote for Project of the Year, which recognizes a development project that had a profound impact on Downtown Huntsville.

Originally built in 1985, Joe Davis Stadium was a beloved landmark for minor-league baseball, earning the nickname “The Crown Jewel of the Southern League.” After its doors closed in 2015, it was reimagined to be a state-of-the-art sports facility and new home to Huntsville City Football Club. It started as a partnership between the team and the city of Huntsville, with support from the Wicks Family Foundation. The iconic Wicks Family Field is delivering a new era for sports in the Rocket City.

DHI also announced its Advocate of the Year award, which recognizes an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the revitalization and success of Downtown Huntsville. The Advocate of the Year is selected by the DHI Team, and the individual or organization must meet a certain criteria.

The Advocate of the Year award went to Donna Castellano, Executive Director of the Historic Huntsville Foundation, for her strong love of Huntsville’s history and commitment to researching and bringing long-needed recognition to stories that are marginalized or forgotten.

Over the course of two years, she has worked with her organization to unveil four historic markers honoring Black and White women who made history in Huntsville. Their dedication culminated in the establishment of the Historic Huntsville Museum, an esteemed addition to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.

The Historic Huntsville Foundation promotes the preservation of historic sites, buildings, houses and neighborhoods in Huntsville and Madison County. Through exhibits like "Brick by Brick: The Legacy of Henderson and Daniel Brandon," the museum sheds light on pivotal moments in Huntsville's past, underscoring the role of Black entrepreneurship and resilience. Looking ahead, the Foundation plans to launch the "Cornerstones of Freedom" tour, further enriching the community's understanding of its diverse heritage.

DHI would once again like to congratulate all of the winners and nominees of the 2023 Downtown Awards and would also like to thank everyone who attended the 2024 Annual Meeting. To view a digital copy of the 2023 Impact Report, click here.