The recognition Benton has been waiting for was granted by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday.

Downtown Benton, Inc., board members received a plaque and signage to commemorate the long-awaited event as Quinn designated the community part of the Illinois Main Street program.

Quinn said he had visited Benton a number of times and recognized the accomplishments of Doug Collins.

“This is a special place in Franklin County,” he said. “I am grateful to Sen. Gary Forby for his support. The Main Street program believes in the grassroots and history of towns throughout the state.

“Illinois is one of 40 states participating in the National Main Street program, administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation,” he said. “Illinois Main Street represents one of the state’s most effective public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal.”

Quinn said the primary challenge of the program is economic development and jobs.

“We are fighting hard for those who are working from paycheck to paycheck and for those who are struggling to find jobs to make a paycheck,” he said. “We want to connect with merchants. Small businesses in Main Street communities mean big business in Illinois.”

He said he is working to bring high-speed Internet access to all parts of the state.

“We have to have no one left out when it comes to broadband access,” Quinn said. “I want Benton to be a wireless Main Street program. That is the commerce of the 21st century. It is important to connect our Main Street communities to the Internet super highway.”

DBI vice president Mike Wyant said he had been involved since 2005.

“We have done a retail sales gap analysis and learned that high-speed Internet sales is an enormous market that Benton can tap into,” he said.

Sharon Pioveson read remarks on behalf Gary Kraft, who was attending a conference, saying Kraft was grateful for the award.

“It is a great sense of accomplishment to mark this day,” Pioveson read. “We have accomplished much in the past three years.” Kraft is president of the DBI board of directors.

Pioveson extended appreciation to all that attended.

“I appreciate the mayor, city council, our hard working board of directors, volunteers and community partners,” she said. “I also appreciate Senator Forby who provided funds to build Capitol Park. Benton received the 2007 Lt. Governor’s Award for Downtown Revitalization in Public Improvements for the Capitol Park project.

“The dilapidated site of the former Capitol Theater went from being an eyesore to an attractive, community-friendly area,” Pioveson said. “Benton’s Capitol Park includes a band shelter, period lighting, planters, trees and floral landscaping.”

Forby commented that Quinn “works as hard as anyone in legislature.”

“I am working on legislation for a tax incentive to restore old buildings,” he said. “I grew up here, and I love this town.”

Quinn asked the audience to remember fallen military personnel.

“We lost three servicemen from Illinois this week,” he said. “They gave their full last measure for our democracy.”

He also honored members of the audience, calling them heroes.

“You are the people who are giving of your time to support your community,” Quinn said.