The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its Community Improvement Awards on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The annual ceremony highlights the people and places investing in the county’s future.
Themed “Blueprints for Success: Celebrating the Visionaries Who Are Designing the Future of Wayne County,” the WCACC selected projects completed between July 2025 and June 2026. Nominees were evaluated on creativity, innovation and overall beautification. In addition to its main awards, one recipient earned the Community Spirit Award for implementing transformational change in the community.
The award recipients were The Readmore Building, Creitz Park Pavilion and Every Child Can Read. The Readmore Building, at Ninth and Main streets in Richmond, earned the Exemplary Award for its overall beautification. The building dates back to 1880 and had fallen into disrepair before Richmond Neighborhood Restoration invested $1.3 million to restore it. Today the building features a retail storefront and upstairs living units, adding new activity to downtown Richmond.
Cambridge City’s Creitz Park Pavilion received the Community Impact Award. The recently erected venue transformed the underutilized field into a vibrant gathering space for residents to enjoy concerts and community events with shelter, a lighted seating area, outdoor furniture and green space.
The Community Spirit Award went to Every Child Can Read. The nonprofit has worked since 2007 to equip families and students with the tools to improve childhood literacy. Its programs include K-Ready, Books at Birth, Wayne County Reads, free after-school tutoring and its annual Community Book Fair.
“Community improvement is about more than how a building or property looks. It’s about pride, progress, and creating a community we’re proud to call home,” said Melissa Vance, president and CEO of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce in a press release. “We are proud to celebrate those investing their time, creativity and resources into making Wayne County an even better place.”
This year’s well-deserving nominees included Bibbly Boo Toy & Candy Shoppe, Dot Foods Family Health Center, Mr. B’s Chicken Salad, Richmond Family Dentistry, Richmond Fire Department Station 2, VanVleet Insurance, Victor’s Mexican Taqueria Bar & Grill, Wayne County Federal Credit Union, Well Care Community Health and Whitewater Gorge Activation Project – Test Road Trailhead.
A version of this article will appear in the September 9 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.