TOPEKA -- The Kansas Department of Commerce has announced the winners of the Main Street Awards of Excellence at the annual Kansas Downtown Symposium at Memorial Hall in Independence.

Among the winners was Phillipsburg. First National Bank and Trust won a community award, while an excellence in fundraising award was given for the community's commemorative playing cards. Excellence in architectural design awards were given to Couli Kaffee and Erik and Nicolina Coulimore.

The event, which ends today, is sponsored by the department's Kansas Main Street program and provides community developers and business leaders a chance to network, attend workshops and discuss downtown development in Kansas. The annual event typically draws nearly 200 business and community leaders interested in downtown development, including city and county officials, entrepreneurs and small-business owners, as well as Main Street directors, board members and volunteers.

The Kansas Main Street program helps community volunteers revitalize their city's historic business district. For details, contact Dan Lara at (785) 296-3760 or email dlara@kansascommerce.com.