Two city of Georgetown initiatives and one Georgetown business were named finalists in the achievement categories for the Texas Downtown Association’s 2019 President’s Awards Program, according to a Sept. 23 news release.

The city’s Red Poppy Festival, which celebrated its 20th year in 2019, was selected as a finalist for Best Promotional Event; Georgetown’s City Center project, which consolidated city offices into a civic campus in downtown just west of the Square, is a finalist for Spirit of Downtown; and the recently opened Lark & Owl Booksellers was named a finalist for Best Downtown Business, the release said.

“Having three President’s Award finalists is a huge honor for Georgetown and our community because there are so many wonderful projects happening in downtowns across the state,” Downtown Development Director Kim McAuliffe said in the release. “We’re looking forward to hosting the annual Texas Downtown Association conference this year where we will get to showcase Georgetown to downtown professionals from cities throughout Texas.”

Finalists were selected from 119 entries submitted in eleven categories from communities throughout the state. The judges for achievement entries included: Molly Alexander, Downtown Austin Alliance; Travis Baker, Community Impact Newspaper; Alan Bojorquez, Bojorquez Law Firm; Margo Richards, Lower Colorado River Authority; and Daryl Whitworth, Madden Media, the release said.

Winners will be announced Oct. 30 at the Awards Gala held in conjunction with the 2019 Texas Downtown Conference at the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center, 1101 Woodlawn Ave., Georgetown.

TDA was established in 1985 to connect and serve communities that are committed to downtown vitality, the release said. The President’s Awards program has recognized outstanding projects, places and people of Texas downtowns, it said..