The Urban Excellence Awards celebrates businesses, organizations, individuals, events and projects that have made significant contributions toward creating a unique, vibrant and diverse downtown environment – and have made a lasting, positive impact on Downtown Tampa. Each year an awards jury representing a cross-section of Downtown constituencies selects award winners honoring the leadership, innovation, hard work, talent and community spirit.
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This award recognizes a public sector project that has made a positive and significant contribution to Downtown; and has demonstrated a strong impact in revitalizing the Downtown area.
This award recognizes a private sector project that has made a positive and significant contribution to Downtown; and has demonstrated a commitment to assist in revitalizing the Downtown area.
This award recognizes a group partnership that has made a unique, positive contribution to Downtown; and has been responsible for a project or program that has complemented the work of the City of Tampa and the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
This award recognizes an iconic building that serves as a magnet to attract people to Downtown by improving the physical environment or by enhancing the economic, cultural or social well-being of the area.
This awards recognizes an event, entity or idea that involved people in or exposed them to a positive Downtown experience, thus enhancing their enjoyment while visiting the area.
This award recognizes a person, organization, business, project or initiative that has made a positive and significant contribution to a Downtown space or has created a more attractive pedestrian atmosphere, and commercially vibrant environment through activities, street level store front improvements or design elements.
This award recognizes a person, business, project or initiative that has made a positive and significant contribution to the Downtown marketplace or has improved Downtown by contributing a new or unique retail experience.
This award recognizes an organization, event or initiative that has had a significant and lasting impact on downtown’s arts and cultural life, stimulates economic growth, encourages tourism and enhances downtown’s cultural image.
This award is voted on by the public and recognizes a business, organization, individual, event, project or initiative that has made a significant contribution toward creating a unique, vibrant and diverse Downtown, and has made a positive impact on the Downtown community.
This award recognizes an individual that has made a positive and significant contribution to a program or project in Downtown; has added to the Downtown visitor experience and/or that has demonstrated strong leadership in revitalizing the Downtown area.
Public Sector Project Award
– eBike Voucher Program – City of Tampa Mobility Department
– Tampa Convention Center Improvement
– Emphasizing Pedestrian Safety
Private Sector Project Award
– Big John the Triceratops Exhibit – Glazer Children’s Museum
– Tampa Bay Wave – USF Health/CAMLS HealthTech | X Accelerator
– Centennial Renovation – Tampa Museum of Art
Downtown Collaboration Award
– “Blind Date with a Book” – Tampa Hillsborough County Public Library
– Sacred Heart “Bikes from the Heart”
– Neighborhood Brand Identities – api+
Landmark Development Project Award
– Hotel Flor’s Commitment to the Community
– The Mav, Channel District Multi-Family Development
– 442 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Downtown Experience Award
– Café Con Tampa
– Local Love Mini Market- Don Me Now
– AfroCAN
Activating Spaces Award
– World Car-Free Day 2023
– WATERLICHT- Strategic Property Partners
– First Take: Live at Tampa Convention Center
Marketplace Award
– UPS Store #4639
– Melting Pot Social
– Lilac – Tampa Edition
Arts & Culture Award
– Tampa Walls
– The Straz Jazz Project – The Straz Center
– The Black Heritage Festival
Christine Burdick Downtown Person of The Year Award
– Beth Alden
– Dr. Michael Tomor
– Dr. Ronald Vaughn
People’s Choice Award
AfroCAN
BELFOR Property Restoration
Beth Alden
Bicycle Friendly Business Program
Big John the Triceratops- Glazer Children’s Museum
Blind Date with a Book- Tampa Hillsborough County Public Library
Café Con Tampa
Centennial Renovation- Tampa Museum of Art
Channelside Drive Project
Dr. Michael Tomor
Dr. Ronald Vaughn
eBike Voucher Program- City of Tampa
Emphasizing Pedestrian Safety
First Take: Live at Tampa Convention Center
Hotel Flor’s Commitment to the Community
John F. Germany Public Library
Lilac- Tampa EDITION
Local Love Mini Market- Don Me Now
Melting Pot Social
Neighborhood Brand Identities- api+
Peterbrooke Chocolatier Tampa
Sacred Heart “Bikes from the Heart”
Se7ven Sounds Music
Tampa Convention Center Improvement
Tampa Walls
The Black Heritage Festival
The Mav
The Portico
The Straz Center Arts Legacy REMIX
The Straz Jazz Project
The UPS Store #4639
USF Health CAMLS and Tampa Bay Wave Partnership
WATERLICHT
World Car-Free Day 2023
442 W. Kennedy Blvd.
511 Franklin Street