Downtown Minot’s Citizens Alley earned recognition from the Mid-America Economic Development Council for outstanding placemaking. Jessica Ackerman accepted the award in early September in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on behalf of Aksal Group, which developed the space.

“Citizens Alley has become something truly special for downtown Minot, and it’s wonderful to see that work receive recognition at a multi-state level,” said Brekka Kramer, Minot Area Chamber EDC President | CEO. “It speaks to the power of community development and what’s possible when people come together around a shared vision.”

“Watching Citizens Alley become a place where people gather - from summer concerts to winter ice skating - is proof that even the most overlooked spaces can become places people return to, again and again,” said Jessica Ackerman from Aksal Group. “The Destination Development Grant from the ND Department of Commerce helped accelerate this project, and we're honored to see that partnership recognized by the Mid-America EDC.”