ROCKINGHAM — The Rockingham Downtown Corp. is seeking nominations for the featured business of 2015, said RDC President Susan Kelly.

The business is selected by an executive committee from the pool of nominees and will be recognized at the RDC’s annual meeting, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Liberty Place on Washington Street.

Kelly said as of Wednesday that only one business had turned in a nomination form. Representatives of downtown businesses can nominate themselves or another business, but all nomination are due on Dec. 31.

Last year, Dairy Queen was selected as the award recipient among several nominees. The recognition program seeks to highlight businesses that have promoted shopping or dining in downtown Rockingham and contributed to the richness of the business community.

“We’re trying to give downtown businesses a little boost,” said Kelly. “To show them they’re appreciated.”

Although a business must be located in the vicinity of downtown in order to compete for this prize, Kelly said, firms that are not located downtown but still want to support Rockingham’s historic shopping district can join the RDC.

“That’s the focus of our organization is the downtown area, but they don’t have to necessarily be downtown to be a part of our organization,” she said.

She also invites people who might be interested in the Rockingham Downtown Corp. and what downtown Rockingham is all about to come to the Jan. 19 meeting. For Rockingham Mayor Steve Morris, it’s more than just about buildings.

“Our history of downtown Rockingham is not the streets, it’s not the buildings. Our history is the people,” Morris said during last year’s recognition banquet. “It wasn’t just for a paycheck. It was and remains today a passion. The people who have given a portion of their lives serving the downtown — this place that we call home.”

Nomination forms are available by emailing Kelly at [email protected] or contacting any RDC member. For more information, call Kelly at 910-997-8255.

Reach reporter Matt Harrelson at 910-817-2674 and follow him on Twitter @mattyharrelson.

Matt Harrelson | Daily Journal Dairy Queen in downtown Rockingham won the Rockingham Downtown Corp.’s 2014 Business of the Year award.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_RDCDQ2.jpgMatt Harrelson | Daily Journal Dairy Queen in downtown Rockingham won the Rockingham Downtown Corp.’s 2014 Business of the Year award.

Matt Harrelson | Daily Journal Jeanna Cloninger, manager of Dairy Queen and an employee for 19 years, accepted the 2014 Business of the Year award for Dairy Queen from the Rockingham Downtown Corp. last year.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_RDCDQ.jpgMatt Harrelson | Daily Journal Jeanna Cloninger, manager of Dairy Queen and an employee for 19 years, accepted the 2014 Business of the Year award for Dairy Queen from the Rockingham Downtown Corp. last year.

By Matt Harrelson

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