Three Downtown Fresno Partnership programs were recognized last week at the 62nd annual International Downtown Association (IDA) conference in Atlanta.

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Fresno was awarded two downtown achievement awards of excellence in for its 2015 restaurant makeover competition and its Downtown Academy. Fresno also earned a Downtown Achievement Award of Merit for its investment flyover video.

The restaurant competition was among five restaurants that competed for a makeover valued at $25,000. The winner, Kikku Japanese Food, located at 2335 Tulare St., underwent a makeover which included new paint, new flooring, new décor, an updated website and signage and the production and airing of a commercial.

The Downtown Academy was launched in 2010 by Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals (FLYP) in collaboration with the Downtown Fresno Partnership. The successful program is a 10-month class where 30 young professionals meet one evening each month to explore downtown businesses, meet community leaders and learn firsthand about urban redevelopment. The academy boasts more than 100 graduates.

The investment flyover video was a collaborative project between the Downtown Fresno Partnership and Meza Films to capture the visual impact of $100 million of downtown investment in a one-minute video.

Fresno is the only city that received three awards.

“The Downtown Fresno Partnership received these awards for conducting innovative best practice work in the industry of urban place management. The Downtown Fresno Partnership is a shining example of excellent downtown management delivering real value to the city,” IDA President and CEO David Downey said in a statement.

Downtown Fresno Partnership CEO Aaron Blair said the recognition speaks volumes about the city’s downtown partnerships and programs.

“We are thrilled to see downtown Fresno recognized on an international stage,” Blair said in a statement. “It speaks to the quality of work and to the strength of our partnerships with downtown businesses and community organizations. We are honored to accept these awards on behalf of all the people who worked to make these projects possible.”