Gloucester’s Main Street Preservation Trust was one of six winners of the Main Street Forward Awards, which recognize communities that have shown exemplary recovery and resilience efforts amid the multiple crises of 2020.

Selected from among 68 submissions by a national jury of economic development experts, the Main Street Preservation Trust was honored for its Downtown Dollars program, which raised nearly $150,000 in gift card sales to local businesses and benefited Gloucester health care workers.

“Gloucester Village has not seen one single business shutter due to COVID-19, and it’s a direct result of the Downtown Dollars program,” said Main Street America’s President and CEO Patrice Frey. “Not only was the e-gift card program a big success in Gloucester, but it also offers a local economic stimulus model for other commercial districts around the country.”

Downtown Dollars came to life when MSPT partnered with two Gloucester residents who wanted to help their fellow business...