Downtown Tipp City Partnership Celebrates 2025 Excellence Awards

CONTRIBUTED BY TASHA WEAVER

The Downtown Tipp City Partnership gathered on February 9 at the Tipp Center for its Annual Meeting and 2025 Excellence Awards, celebrating the people who strengthen downtown through service, entrepreneurship, and community pride. Past President Lisa Santucci emceed the evening. Mayor Logan Rogers opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an invocation from Rob Brown of Main Street Financial Group–Thrivent. A consistent theme throughout the night was clear: downtown success is built on relationships.

One special recognition highlighted a classroom-to-community collaboration. After noticing city pride stickers at a Heritage Ohio training, Executive Director Tasha Weaver brought the idea to the Promotions Committee.

Member Liz Robbins suggested partnering with Tipp City Middle School, and art teacher Heather Combs incorporated the project into her curriculum. Students created original designs representing Tipp City through the themes Past, Present, and Future. Winning artists Makayla Utz and Bryce Westfall, with Bryce earning recognition for two designs, were honored at the dinner and will appear on the Downtown Lowdown podcast. The stickers were produced locally by Repacorp and will be distributed at downtown events and in teacher reward boxes, turning inspiration into a meaningful connection between students, educators, and downtown leadership.

DTCP also shared measurable results from the past year: 35,000+ attendees at downtown events, $700,000+ in estimated economic impact, 2,965 volunteer hours valued at $96,125, and $23,000 returned directly to the community. “These numbers represent people,” said Executive Director Tasha Weaver. “They represent volunteers, business owners, and a community that continues to show up.”

Milestone recognitions were presented to Midwest Memories for 25 years in business and Monroe Federal Savings & Loan for 150 years in Tipp City.

DTCP then presented its 2025 Cheers to Excellence Awards. Downtown Restaurant of the Year was awarded to Coldwater Café, Downtown Business of the Year to Bodega Market, Best Downtown Libations Spot to Harrison’s Restaurant, and Best Downtown Shopping Spot to Living Simply Soap, whose owner, Tanya Brown, also received the Heart of Downtown Award, one of two write-in honors. Best Downtown Salon was awarded to The Hair Barre, New Downtown Business of the Year went to Seven Sisters Apothecary & Art, and the Cheers to Service Excellence Award was presented to Yoga Barre & Co. The Nonprofit of the Year Award was presented to the Tipp City Public Library, and Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Joanna Pittinger. DTCP also donated $500 to the Tipp City High School Softball Team in appreciation of their volunteer support during the event.

DTCP’s work is carried out through four volunteer-led committees: Promotions, Design, Economic Development, and Operations, each focused on storytelling, beautification, small business support, and event structure. The organization expressed gratitude to its 2025 Community Event and Presenting Sponsors, including Troy Country Club, Monroe Federal Savings & Loan, Main Street Financial Group–Thrivent, Sibcy Cline Realtors, Abbey Credit Union, and Mauk Cabinets by Design, along with Vision Partners such as the Tipp City Foundation, impACT and the City of Tipp City.

The evening closed with a reminder of DTCP’s mission: To enhance, preserve and promote Tipp City by honoring our past and building our future. More than awards, the night celebrated a downtown built by people who chose to invest in it.