When a business owner invests in new awnings or distinctive signage, fresh paint or new lighting, she’s telegraphing community pride, expressing her business’ identity, and offering a vote of confidence in her commercial corridor.

Every other year the Community Design Collaborative and Commerce Department acknowledge these investments through the Storefront Design Challenge, awarding the finest in refreshed storefronts across the city.

This year’s crop of 75 nominations represent improvements made since fall 2014, spanning commercial corridors citywide – from East Passyunk Avenue to Richmond Street, from Torresdale Avenue to Fairmount Avenue. Competition jurors picked two finalists for each of 12 categories, honoring power of the good design as well as new commitments to corridors that may not have seen a lot of investment in recent years.

The North 5th Street Revitalization Project was honored with The Instigator Award, for a concentration of small but mighty projects that collectively made a positive impact on the corridor in Olney.

Many storefront improvement projects are made possible because of the city’s Storefront Improvement Program, which reimburses business owners for half the cost of storefront renovations up to a certain amount. The jury recognized Councilman Bobby Henon with The Corridor Catalyst award for his work to find city funding to enable the Storefront Improvement Program to continue at the Commerce Department.

Honorees were recognized at an event late Wednesday afternoon at the Center for Architecture as part of DesignPhiladelphia. Here’s a look at each award:

Best Overall – tie: Neighborhood Potters + Philly CAM