DON Enterprises, Inc. Earns PDC Townie Award

ERIE, PA. – Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) presented eighteen awards during the organization’s annual statewide Townie Awards Gala. The Townie Awards are a festive and venerable tradition designed to recognize the commonwealth’s core communities and individuals for the creation and implementation of projects, programs, and events that exemplify the goals of PDC’s community revitalization mission. Eligible communities consist of Pennsylvania
Downtown Center’s nearly 200 member organizations, including Main Street and Elm Street programs, making the Townies a competitive award process each year.

Among this year’s distinguished recipients was DON Enterprises, Inc., which received the 2026 Townie Award in the Asset Enhancement category for its Building New Castles – East Side Grove project. This statewide recognition highlights DON Enterprises’ continued commitment to neighborhood revitalization, community investment, and creating vibrant public spaces that improve the quality of life for Lawrence County residents.

DON Enterprises continues to transform the East Side Grove neighborhood through community beautification, and initiatives that create a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant place to live. Projects such as the East Side Grove Community Garden, neighborhood cleanups, and ongoing revitalization efforts have strengthened community pride and encouraged continued investment. DON Enterprises’ Kenny Rice has been instrumental in coordinating these initiatives, working
alongside employees, volunteers, residents, and community partners to create lasting positive changes throughout the neighborhood.

Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s Executive Director, Julie Fitzpatrick, said, “The Townies are an opportunity for us to showcase our member communities and celebrate their incredible work in our commonwealth’s business districts and neighborhoods. Our Main Street and Elm Street community leaders work tirelessly to make our Pennsylvania communities places where we are proud to call home, start a business, build a family, or retire. These award winners are true
examples of why ‘Main Street Matters.’ We are thrilled to honor 18 incredible award winners.”

The Townie Awards are part of PDC’s annual statewide conference, Making Waves on Main Street | Big Bold Ideas That Push the Boundaries, held in Erie. The conference brings together community leaders, municipal officials, planners, and revitalization professionals from across Pennsylvania to celebrate innovative projects that strengthen downtowns, neighborhoods, and local economies.

Founded in 1987, the mission of Pennsylvania Downtown Center is to advance the sense of place, quality of life, and economic vitality of Pennsylvania’s downtowns, traditional neighborhood business districts, and nearby residential areas.

DON Enterprises extends its sincere appreciation to the Pennsylvania Downtown Center for this prestigious recognition. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated employees, volunteers, community partners, and supporters whose passion, hard work, and commitment made this achievement possible. This Townie Award belongs to everyone who has contributed to the success of the Building New Castles – East Side Grove project and to the ongoing revitalization of our community. Together, we are creating new opportunities through quality housing, beautifying our neighborhoods, and building a cleaner, brighter future for the residents of New Castle.