Nominations are officially open for Downtown Businesses of the Year. Each year, two businesses are selected by the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership (DFP) based on nominations from the public. The first category, the “Legacy” Award, recognizes businesses who have been in the downtown for 50 years or more. The second category recognizes the best new business to open in downtown during the last year. The public is encouraged to submit nominations for the Downtown Legacy Award and the Best New Business Award including personal stories of how businesses have contributed to the Fond du Lac community, their innovations, and challenges they have overcome. Nominations are due by January 31, 2026 and may be submitted at https://forms.gle/qExUoduAukUtrQ7CA.
The Downtown Legacy Award was created in 2015 and has been most recently awarded to Hotel Retlaw (2022), National Exchange Bank and Trust (2023), and The Goldsmith (2024). 18 businesses are currently eligible for nomination for the Legacy Award. A full list of all eligible businesses is available as part of the online nomination form for each award.
The following businesses are new in 2025 and eligible for the Downtown Fond du Lac New Business of the Year Award: 1836 Renegade Taproom, Active Full Armor, Agile 3D Solutions, BlackHawks Smoke N Vape, Dreamcatcher’s Corner, Fond du Lac Beer Company, Jenna H Beauty, Kristina M. Sanders-Brown Law Office, LLC, Kusasi Auto Sales & Repairs, La Belle FDL, LaPatrona Mini Mart, Lillian Kast Boudoir, Ohana Axe Company, Omkara healing Center, Passageway Financial, Relentless Vapor, Rogue Dog & Cat Grooming, Rooted in Love and Fur Photography, Skin & Laser Clinic of Fond du Lac, UW-Madison Extension Fond du Lac County, Vendicards, and Wellness 360 Health + Beauty Studio.
Judges from the DFP Organization Committee will consider, contribution to community and industry, business performance, innovative practices, and challenges overcome. Winners will be determined based on the content and quality of the completed nominations. Anyone may nominate a business. Self-nominations are encouraged. All nominations will be considered when judging, so businesses may be nominated by more than one person. All nominations must be received by January 31, 2026. Information in the nomination form will be used for presentations and news releases related to the awards. Any confidential financial information will not be used.
Numerous other awards will be given to downtown businesses and volunteers during the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership Annual Meeting. The meeting is open to the public and will take place on March 5th at 8 a.m. at Fond du Lac Beer Company. RSVPs for the annual meeting are appreciated and may be sent to [email protected] by February 15.
The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people, activity, business and a thriving civic life back to the heart of Fond du Lac. The DFP serves 214 properties with 284 businesses, 76% of which are small, locally-owned and operated.