The Downtown Bozeman Partnership presented three awards at the 10th Annual Downtown Breakfast held Thursday, May 28, 2015 at the Baxter Hotel.  
The awards included the Downtown Cornerstone Award, the Downtown Community Award and the “Life is Downtown” Award.  The nominees and recipient for each award were selected by the Downtown Bozeman Association board, Business Improvement District board and Tax Increment Finance board.

The Downtown Cornerstone 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 downtown events, supporting the member organizations of the Downtown Bozeman Partnership, while being an exemplary business leader.

Previous recipients include: Country Bookshelf (2014), Rockin’ R Bar (2013), The Leaf & Bean (2012), Insty-Prints (2011), Heeb’s Grocery (2010), Owenhouse Ace Hardware (2009) and First Security Bank (2008). The 2015 Downtown Cornerstone nominees were the Baxter Hotel, MacKenzie River Pizza, Nova Cafe and Schnee’s Boots and Shoes. The 2015 recipient of the Downtown Cornerstone Award is the Schnee’s Boots and Shoes.  Suzanne Edwards accepted the award on behalf of Schnees.

Babs Noelle, DBA President, presented the award saying, “For decades, Schnee’s has been a huge supporter of the downtown.  Both owners have served on Downtown Partnership boards and they have also been consistently involved in nearly all DBA events and programs. We all owe Schnee’s a debt of gratitude for being an anchor on Main Street—a downtown cornerstone—for over 40 years.”

The Downtown Community Award acknowledges a business or organization that has provided exemplary support of downtown Bozeman.  This entity recognizes that the city 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 the community’s historic core.  
Previous recipients include: First Interstate Bank (2014), Town Square Media (2013), Bozeman Daily Chronicle (2012), Bozeman Food Co-op (2011), City of Bozeman (2010), Montana State University (2009) and Kenyon Noble (2008). The 2015 Downtown Community nominees were Bridger Bowl, First Security Bank, Gallatin Art Crossing and Sweet Pea Festival. The 2015 recipient of the Downtown Community Award is First Security Bank.  Steve Wheeler, Executive Vice President, accepted the award on behalf of First Security Bank.

Eric Sutherland, Downtown Business Improvement District board member, presented the award and said, “First Security Bank was founded downtown in 1919. In 1960 they moved to their current location at the corner of Main and Bozeman. Considering First Security’s 95 year history downtown, it is no surprise that they support nearly every Downtown Partnership initiative. We are thankful for First Security Bank’s loyal support each and every year.”

The “Life is Downtown” 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 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 playing a leadership role in downtown initiatives.  

Previous recipients include: Ileana Indreland (2014), Bobby Bear (2013), Larry Bowman (2012), Bert Hopeman (2011), Chris Pope (2010), Steve Schnee (2009) and Bob Paynich (2008). The 2015 “Life is Downtown” nominees were Mike Hope, Babs Noelle and Rob Pertzborn. The 2015 recipient of the “Life is Downtown” Award is Rob Pertzborn.

Chris Naumann, the Downtown Partnership’s Executive Director, presented the award and said, “Rob has lived and worked downtown for 25 years. I can tell you from personal experience, Rob thinks about downtown a lot—as in almost all the time. And he constantly asks the hard questions. As an architect and a volunteer, Rob has played a visionary roll in dozens of downtown projects—both public and private. Rob is a true champion of downtown and embodies the meaning of our motto: ‘Life is Downtown’.”