Downtown Bozeman Partnership Annual Breakfast 2024
AC Hotel - Bridger Ballroom

2024 Annual DTNBZN Award Nominees

Cornerstone Business Award

This award recognizes a business that serves as an anchor to the downtown community not only economically, but socially, culturally, and civically. The business has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to downtown by sponsoring events, supporting the member organizations of the Downtown Bozeman Partnership, while being an exemplary business leader. Recipient to be selected by Downtown Bozeman Partnership Boards.

Nominees:

The Element Bozeman – The Element has been a large fiscal and promotional supporter for many of our largest downtown events (Music on Main, Ladies’ Night, Art Walks, and more) as well as supporting member programming and general assistance with outreach and community-minded ventures. The Element has also been a consistent visible supporter of many other local non-profits and community-minded organizations and events including YMCA, Thrive, BYEP and several others.

The American Legion – The Legion has also been a huge supporter for downtown, specifically the DBA through support for Music on Main since its inception as well as hosting the Christmas Stroll Gingerbread contest in their event space at no cost. The Legion also has an active board who also hosts the Memorial Day parade downtown, provide flag assemblies for key national holidays and days of remembrance and works with varied non-profit groups around the community to help promote and support childhood sports and activities.

Color World Printers – Color World Printers has changed their name a couple times over the years but their undying support for downtown has not changed. They have been directly involved in the light pole banner program since its inception and continue to work with non-profits around the community to have a visible presence on main street. Color World has sponsored many downtown events including printing the beautiful large format posters for the Christmas Stroll that line our main street windows at no cost for 15+ years. Color World was also directly involved in our LUV DTNBZN campaign during covid, which helped us spread love throughout our community during a difficult time for our small businesses.

Past winners: Bozeman Spirits (2023), The Lark/Rialto (2022), Nova Café (2018), Heyday (2017), Baxter Hotel (2016), Schnee’s Boots and Shoes (2015), Country Bookshelf (2014), Rockin R Bar (2013), The Leaf & Bean (2012), Insty-Prints (2011), Heeb’s Grocery (2010), Owenhouse Hardware (2009), First Security Bank (2008)

Downtown Community Award

This award acknowledges a business or organization that has provided exemplary support for all that is Downtown Bozeman. This entity recognizes that the community of Bozeman and the entire Gallatin Valley benefits from a thriving downtown, and therefore, they have assisted the Downtown Bozeman Partnership in its efforts to promote and enhance downtown as our community’s historic core. Recipient to be selected by Downtown Bozeman Partnership Boards.

Nominees:

Lehrkind’s Coca-Cola – Lehrkind’s Coca Cola and the Lehrkind Family have been very longtime supports of Downtown Bozeman. They support some of our largest events (Music on Main Christmas Stroll, Trick or treating, Bobcat Fest and more) through general funding as well as in-kind product donations for our non-profit partners to sell and raise money for their groups. Lehrkind’s has always viewed downtown as the heart of our community and has always recognized the importance of community events, outreach and collaboration. Lehrkind’s is a valued downtown partner.

Bozeman Health – Bozeman Health has supported the DBA and downtown throughout time in varied ways and through numerous collaborations. They founded Pink Bozeman and continue to play a vital role in that annual awareness campaign. They also recognize the importance of the downtown core by their continued partnerships with downtown businesses and organizations. They support several downtown events each and every year including Music on Main, Christmas Stroll, Cruisin’ on Main Car Show and more.

NorthWestern Energy – NorthWestern Energy has historically been a large and consistent funding source and supporter of downtown projects, events and programs. After the 2011 downtown explosion, NWE established a downtown office aimed at community education and collaboration. They also invested in a large gas line upgrade through 2012-13 in the core downtown area, which provided needed infrastructure needs for our growing downtown area. NWE continues to be a vital funding source for many of our free community events and is always happy to support almost everything we do.

Past Winners: Prime Inc. (2023), Blackfoot Communications (2022) Bridger Bowl (2019), Sweet Pea Festival (2017), Gallatin Art Crossing (2016), First Security Bank (2015), First Interstate Bank (2014), Town Square Media (2013), Bozeman Daily Chronicle (2012), Bozeman Co-op (2011), City of Bozeman (2010), Montana State (2009), Kenyon Noble (2008)

“Life is Downtown” Award

This award honors a person who has given a veritable lifetime of service to downtown Bozeman. The recipient has exceeded the expectations of the community in their generous support of downtown. This person has devoted considerable time and effort to the betterment of the downtown community by volunteering for special events, serving as a downtown board member, and/or playing a leadership role in downtown initiatives. Recipient to be selected by Downtown Bozeman Partnership Boards.

Nominees:

Eric Bowman, Ace Hardware – Eric and Ace Hardware have been long-time supporters of downtown and our three organizations within the Partnership since our inception. Eric has served on the BID for many years and is currently the BID chair. Eric always agrees to give his time to committees and working groups for the betterment of downtown and is currently on the Partnership parking task force and the Partnership Advisory committee. He also supports many of our events and programs fiscally and through outreach and marketing throughout the year.

Kris Olenicki, Sweet Pea Festival – Kris has been the Executive Director of the Sweet Pea Festival for 10+ years and is a longtime partner and collaborator for DBA and downtown Bozeman. Kris sees the importance of a community organization like Sweet Pea to have a presence throughout the year in our community and not just during their 3-day festival and does this in a variety of ways. Sweet Pea support Music on Main and has adopted that Thursday at an official Sweet Pea event. Sweet Pea hosts our gingerbread contest and helps manage the contest and entries during the event and help raise money for the Stroll during the contest display. Kris also sees downtown are the heart of our community and makes sure any event, programs or project she supports always includes downtown or has downtown highlighted.

Jim Ness – Jim became the First Security Bank President in Bozeman in 2014 after 23 years in Kalispell and recently retired after 33 years. His support for our downtown organizations and non-profits across the community was evident is everything he did. His unwavering commitment and support towards downtown and community initiatives have significantly impacted the prosperity of our vibrant town. As the Baltimore building owner, Jim's generosity shone through when he provided the Downtown Bozeman Partnership with a substantial rent discount for numerous years. This exemplifies his dedication to fostering a thriving downtown community, ensuring that local businesses and organizations have the opportunity to flourish.

Past winners: Billy McWilliams (2023), Coco Douma (2022), Bob Lashaway (2017), Babs Noelle (2016), Rob Pertzborn (2015), Ileana Indreland (2014), Bobby Bear (2013), Larry Bowman (2012), Bert Hopeman (2011), Chris Pope, (2010), Steve Schnee (2009), Bob Paynich (2008)

Thank you to our generous sponsors: First Security Bank, Blackfoot Communications, Bozeman Health Foundation, Sanderson Stewart, AC Marriott, & Berkshire Hathaway.