Downtown Springfield, Inc. (DSI) brought the community together Thursday evening for its annual Dinner & Award Celebration at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, honoring the businesses, organizations, and individuals whose work continues to strengthen and energize the heart of downtown Springfield.
Cainan Barnett, Marketing Manager at Isringhausen Imports and a member of the DSI board, was honored with the Volunteer of the Year award for his leadership on the My Heart’s Downtown campaign and several other initiatives that are energizing the district. (Cainan is shown in the center of the accompanying photo.) In addition to his award, Cainan helped recognize the 2025 Isringhausen DRIVE Grant recipients by presenting plaques to Long Nine Junction (Corey and Emily Faucon) and Vonda Social House (Eric and Sierra Ferrell) during the ceremony. He also awarded the first ever Ignition Small Business Grant to both 5th Street Gem and Schlee’s Bakery & Bottle Shop.
It was a truly wonderful evening, one that showcased not only the achievements of this year’s honorees, but the collective spirit that continues to move downtown Springfield forward. Events like this remind us how vital Downtown Springfield Inc. is in championing local businesses, nurturing creative energy, and building a vibrant district where people want to live, work, shop, and spend time.
As a longtime downtown business, Isringhausen is proud to call this community home and grateful for the opportunity to partner with DSI in strengthening the heart of our city. Together, we can help downtown Springfield thrive for years to come.