Businesses near downtown Madison are removing plywood boards from their storefronts for the first time in months. The plywood protection was installed last spring after demonstrations turned violent last May and more than 75 businesses were damaged and looted, according to the Madison Police Department website. Social Impact Investment Director at the American Family Insurance Institute Nyra Jordan said the removal of these boards is symbolic of the change in Madison. “I think it’s good because it’s a semblance of some kind of normalcy returning to the city,” Jordan said. “I hope we can start to bring life back to State Street.”