International Downtown Association Selects Downtown Albany Business Improvement District as Winner

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2009 Quadricentennial Commemorative Calendar Image

ALBANY, NY (10/02/2009)(readMedia)-- The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) received an Award of Distinction from The International Downtown Association (IDA).

The project was one of 77 award submissions IDA received this year as part of its Downtown Achievement Awards. "The number and breadth of entries made judging a difficult task," said Jane Jenkins, chairman of IDA and the awards program. "The awards jury was impressed with the accomplishments of the winners and are pleased to honor the Downtown Albany BID among them."

The 2009 Downtown Achievement Award winners were recognized during IDA's 55th Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin September 11-15, 2009.

The Downtown Albany BID's celebratory 2009 Quadricentennial Commemorative Calendar featured 13 juried photographic images of Albany and also boasts a timeline of Henry Hudson's voyage, significant milestones in Albany's history and calendar dates for key 2009 Albany events (available at press time). This community led initiative features Capital Region photographers whose images were selected from nearly 250 entries for the calendar. They are: Michael Furgang of New Lebanon, NY; Timothy Raab of Albany, NY; Alan Wechsler of Rensselaer, NY; Paul Tokarchuk of Malta, NY; Jeff Perkins of Slingerlands, NY; Donald Blais of East Greenbush, NY; Patricia Decker of Cohoes, NY; David Koschnick of Cohoes, NY, Howard Fogelson of Latham, NY; David Carroll of Albany, NY; Luba Ricket of Albany, NY and Tom Killips of Troy, NY. The calendar would not have been possible without the underwriting support of: The Swyer Companies/Stuyvesant Plaza; Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau; Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP; Central Avenue BID; CHA; City of Albany/ALDC; CSEA; Curran Investment Management; Greco Construction Inc.; Legacy Banks; and UHY Advisors. Sponsorship and calendar sales resulted in a net of nearly $22,000 toward Downtown Albany BID programs and initiatives. While the calendars are sold out, individual calendar images can be purchased by visiting the Downtown Albany BID website at www.downtownalbany.org or can be seen thru December 2009 in the 80 State Street lobby Monday thru Friday, 9am – 4pm. For more information, contact the Downtown Albany BID at 518-465-2143 or via www.downtownalbany.org.

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The Downtown Albany BID, incorporated in 1996, is a private, not-for profit 501 (c) (3) organization that works to restore, promote and maintain the character and viability of downtown Albany and to improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for all those who work in, live in and visit the Capital City. The Downtown Albany BID covers approximately 50 square blocks from Eagle Street on the west to Broadway on the east, and Clinton Avenue on the north to Madison Avenue on the south. Downtown Albany is easily accessible from four exits off I-787. Ample public parking is available in more than 16,000 spaces; metered parking is free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all weekends. For information about the Downtown Albany BID, call 518-465-2143 or visit www.downtownalbany.org.

Founded in 1954, the International Downtown Association has more than 650 member organizations worldwide including: North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Through our network of committed individuals, rich body of knowledge and unique capacity to nurture community-building partnerships, IDA is a guiding force in creating healthy and dynamic centers that anchor the well being of towns, cities and regions of the world.