At a gathering of more than 100 community members on the lawn of the Martin House Bed and Breakfast on Thursday, June 8, Greenville's Main Street presented its first ever Great Greenville Main Street Award to Martin House owner Jo

Weitman.

As those gathered enjoyed the pleasant evening weather, Greenville Main Street Program Director Nancy Idland read a resolution presented to Weitman by the Main Street Board of Directors in recognition of her contribution to the revitalization efforts in downtown.

"Ms. Weitman has exhibited a vision for the community of Greenville Main Street and has made a positive contribution of the revitalization of downtown," Idland read from the resolution. "She has shown great foresight in undertaking a successful project in renovating the former H. Porter Martin home into a popular downtown bed and breakfast."

Idland said Weitman was the perfect choice to receive the first Great Greenville Main Street Award, and said that Weitman's renovations to the downtown landmark have given the community something to be proud of for many years to come.

"Jo's dedication and hard work have contributed greatly to the efforts of Main Street, but she has also given so much back to the community through what she has done to this delightful home," Idland said. "She has truly created a diamond in our midst and has put the crowning jewel in Greenville's downtown."

Idland said the Great Greenville Main Street Award will become an annual event to recognize those individuals, organizations and businesses that have contributed to the success of the downtown Greenville revitalization efforts.

"There are so many people have contributed so much to our efforts that it is hard to choose just one to recognize," she said. "We hope this award will become something community members will strive to achieve as we continue our efforts to revitalize the atmosphere and commerce in downtown Greenville."

Weitman said she was humbled by the honor and expressed her gratitude for the support she received from throughout the community during her efforts to renovate the Martin House.

"I was completely surprised by the award," Weitman said. "And it couldn't have been better because I was so enjoying everyone from the community being at my house. It was such an honor because I felt like I was being recognized for something I love to do so much."

Weitman said that renovating an old home into a bed and breakfast had been a dream of hers for a number of years, and that she is happy she decided on the home she did, in the community it is in.

"I am really pleased with all the support and help I received here in Greenville," Weitman said. "I have met and made some wonderful new friends here in this community and I hope we can all share in this award together."