Fargo, ND – Two community members have been recognized for their outstanding service to the Downtown Fargo area with the 2023 Broadway Monument Award. The award is presented annually by the Downtown Community Partnership (DCP) to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the community by offering their time, talents, and resources to further the goals and objectives of the DCP.
Jan Eliassen, the Director of Harm Reduction Programs for the City of Fargo, was one of the recipients of the award in recognition of her efforts to help the homeless population and promote community health. Eliassen’s approach emphasizes community engagement and collaboration, as evidenced by her efforts to gather input from local business leaders and residents to tailor services to meet community needs.
“Jan Eliassen’s work in Downtown Fargo is too often overlooked for the recognition it deserves, especially with the recent increase in the number of unsheltered in Downtown Fargo,” said Rocky Schneider, Executive Director of the DCP. “Downtown has seen its challenges due to the increase in homelessness, but Jan and her team at the Engagement Center have been on the front lines managing those challenges for the betterment of the community as a whole, in addition to benefiting those they serve.”
The other recipient of the award was Fargo Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney. Mayor Mahoney was first elected to the City Commission in 2005 and became Mayor in 2015. During his tenure, the city has seen the revitalization of Downtown Fargo as a regional economic and cultural hub. The Mayor’s 2024 budget, approved by the City Commission, made a significant commitment to the DCP to establish a growing partnership in providing services to Downtown businesses and residents.
“Under Mayor Mahoney’s tenure with the city, Downtown Fargo has seen its property value increase to almost a billion dollars and has made up approximately one-eighth of all new housing starts in the city over the last seven years,” said Rocky Schneider. “Mayor Mahoney has overseen the revitalization of Downtown into a thriving neighborhood and an economic and cultural hub of the region, which has seen resilient prosperity even after COVID, which saw many Downtowns falter across the country.”
The 2023 Broadway Monument Awards were presented to Eliassen and Mayor Mahoney during a meeting at City Hall on March 4, 2024. The DCP advocates for businesses, residents, and community partners focused on economic growth, vibrancy, and advocacy of Downtown Fargo.
