The Downtown Camas Association (DCA) and Journey Community Church received the Community Partnership award at this week’s Washington Main Street Excellence on Main Awards Ceremony in Chelan, WA.
The award recognizes a Main Street organization and partner who have demonstrated the highest and best degree of cooperation to benefit downtown revitalization efforts.
Carrie Schulstad, DCA executive director, said that working with the downtown Camas church has benefited the local community, despite the unusual pairing.
“Having a church on your main street might not seem ideal, but Journey Community Church in downtown Camas is a marked exception,” she said. “From renovating a historic and prominent downtown building in dire need to supporting DCA through sponsorship, volunteerism and use of their beautiful space, having Journey as a key partner in our downtown has changed the way we can do community development.”
Journey Community Church purchased its current downtown Camas property seven years ago. The space was at one time used as a JC Penny department store, which closed in the 1980s. A multi-million dollar renovation of the building in 2009 brought it back to life.
In addition to church events, the space now hosts community fundraisers and other events. And when the church purchased two vacant storefronts next door in 2014, it waited for tenants that fit the DCA’s vision. Those storefronts now house a bakery and dance studio.
“The partnership between Downtown Camas Association and Journey Community Church is a unique example of the power of having a shared vision for downtown,” said Breanne Durham, Washington State Main Street coordinator. “We are truly impressed with what the community has accomplished and look forward to their continued success.”
