The Downtown Racine Corporation (DRC) convened a standing-room-only crowd of over 125 attendees on Monday, January 26, at The Red Onion for its Annual State of the Downtown and Achievement Award Presentation. The event highlighted a successful 2025 for Downtown Racine and provided a forward look at strategic initiatives planned for 2026.
Kelly Kruse, Executive Director of the DRC, presented key accomplishments across business development, marketing, events, and clean and safe initiatives.
2025 Highlights Include:
Booming Business Growth: 21 New Businesses opened in the downtown district, nearly doubling the number of openings compared to 2024.
National Recognition & Capital: Downtown Racine was selected as one of only six downtowns in the nation to receive a \$70,000 Unlocking Capital Grant aimed at attracting new businesses.
Events Driving Spending: The DRC hosted over 80 event dates, with the signature Party on the Pavement generating over one million dollars in direct local spending. The HayMarket series also contributed nearly \$500,000 in spending across its seven dates.
Infrastructure & Beautification: The Downtown Business Improvement District (BID 1) invested in a new street sweeper and installed 25 new holiday wreaths to enhance the area’s aesthetic appeal.
Innovative Public Art: To mark its 25th year of Public Art, the DRC announced a partnership with Gateway Technical College students in welding and woodworking to create 25 giant “Greetings from Racine” postcards to be installed downtown.
“To be able to share this type of information to the large audience that we had was exciting, especially given the tremendous diversity of the stakeholders in attendance,” stated Kelly Kruse, DRC Executive Director. “Downtown is the heart and economic driver of our community. We look forward to sharing additional updates as significant progress is made during 2026 and beyond.”
2025 Downtown Achievement Award Winners Announced
The event also recognized individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions to downtown’s success in 2025, from over 90 nominations received this year.
Award Category Winners
Corporate Citizenship Award Michael Godfrey, Dominion Properties
Downtown Showcase Award Christmas ‘Eave’
Best New Small Business Award Stitched Quilt Shop
Downtown Champion Award Reefpoint Brew House
CPR Award (Redevelopment) Tulip Tavern
6th Street Standout Opulence Beauty Lounge
Decades of Dedication Hot Shop Glass
Honorable Mention COP House (honoring Chief Ramirez, Liz Powell, Jim Ladwig, and City Officials) & Gateway Technical College Welding students
Austin Schultz, 2025 DRC Board Chairman, added, “With so much happening and growing in Downtown Racine it is always exciting to celebrate the accomplishments of this great community. We are extremely proud of the work we have put in, to make us a thriving, activated destination.”
The full presentation is available for viewing on the DRC’s Facebook page at @downtownracine.
About the Downtown Racine Corporation (DRC):
The Downtown Racine Corporation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster economic, social, and cultural diversity by stimulating business development, programming events, and marketing downtown to the community, developers, and tourists.