Thank you to all those people who attended our Promotions Committee meeting yesterday. In attendance: Andy Walker (RDA) , Ryan Cole (Davies Community Service Leader) Kathy Coches (@ the bank), Kathy Yeager (Bethaven Inn), Alice Sjolander (Market House), Viki Allin (Creative Crust), Cindy Thompson (Market House Grille), Linda Hanahan (Documents Solutions/Xerox), Kathy Young (Loeffler's)
Here is what we discussed at Our Meeting:
Clarification of Where we are With the Main Street Program:
Andy discussed where we stand in the Main Street Program process right now. He first stated that we are not yet deemed a Main Street Program and then he went on to describe the preferred model and his model for how the Program works.
* The Preferred Model
o Has its own Board of Directors
o Is deemed a 501c3 Organization
o And Has a Full Time Manager
* Andy's Model
o The Redevelopment Authority will be the Main Street Applicant
o We would use the already formed RA Board of Directors
o An Advisory Board specifically for the Main Street Program will be formed
o The Full Time Manager would be an employee of the RA
**The Problem under this model is that since the RA is not deemed a 501c3 organization, we are not sure if we can give tax write offs, for when Main Street Funding is given.**
Andy is getting Legal Interpretation of this right now. It seems to be favorable because of the Public Purpose of the Program.
Update on the 50s Block Party:
Viki made an updated poster so that it could be mentioned that throughout the day other downtown businesses would be having different events as well. Also the downtown businesses are putting on a raffle for a basket full of items from their businesses, with the money going to the Main Street Fund. At Johnnie's Drive In, Cindy at the Market Grille will have her expenses covered and receive 10% and then the rest will go to the Main Street Fund. In addition to this all the tips will be going straight to the fund. For the Bandstand at the Bank we decided to change the name from Americana Bandstand to Meadville Bandstand. Kathy will have to determine expenses for her to host this @ the bank and determine how much will be going to the fund. Andy said that we might be able to have a bank account or internal fund set up for these funds. Linda said that she had a bunch of balloons that she would be willing to let us use so we will probably utilize those. The advertising for the block party was then briefly discussed. A Note to anyone interested the actual Block Party Committee will be meeting tomorrow Friday, June 27, 2008 @ the bank at noon, if anyone is interested in coming.
Starn Marketing and Our Meadville Business Map:
Andy, Viki and I met with Starn Marketing and discussed the format of the map. Viki discussed how it would be set up, with one side of the map having small advertising around the outside and a map in the middle, and then on the back there will be a downtown business directory. In addition to this, the businesses that advertise on the map will be pinpointed out on the map in some way, whether it is a star, arrow, or some other way of pointing them out. It was mentioned that we should also mark parking lots on the map. The map will be composed of two colors and when it is complete we will receive it in PDF or GIF format so we can make more copies when we need it. It was mentioned that these maybe good for place mats, too. Starn is trying to determine the size of the map based of the number of businesses, so once the size is determined we can get a quote.
Website:
We need to get more events on the website, which if you don't remember is www.makeitmeadville.com. Viki said that the website has its own email address which is mim16335@gmail.com . In order to get more events on the website Viki said that it would help if we would send emails to this address when we hear of events that are going on, that way she can get them on the website. We cleared up that this calendar of events will be focused on Entertainment. So if you know of any events that are not on the website be sure to get them to Viki, so she can put them up. We mentioned that important events that are not necessarily in the downtown area would be good to put on the website too. Some examples of these types of events are Margaritaville and the Thurston Classic.
Logo:
It was discussed how we should get a uniform logo for our Main Street Program. One idea that was mentioned was that we could have a logo contest and people put in like a dollar to vote for the one that they like. This way it could become a fundraising event as well.
Future Events
We discussed a possible 3 Day Event, which would include The Taste of Meadville one day, The Sights and Sounds of Meadville another day, and then The Bounty of Meadville the Last Day. Or some other order of these events in a three day period. It was thought that a Saturday through Monday set up may be best. This is something that will have to be looked into for next year.
The idea of October fest was also mentioned and then we talked about the Scarecrow festival again, and how it could be a fundraising event with envelope voting or something of that sort. We decided that we will look at October as a time for our next event with a combination of the Scarecrow Festival and the already occurring Halloween Parade. As of right now the Scarecrow event is tentatively set up for September 20, 2008.
Relations Between the College and Downtown
There is a program with CATA that is being planned in which once a week the Bus will run later then normal so that it can take Allegheny Students Downtown, and maybe highlight a different downtown restaurant each week. This way with only one restaurant highlighted a week they all wouldn't have to stay open late. The bus would probably run till 8 or 9 at night.
We decided that it would be good for the Downtown to work on being more inviting to the college community. One thing that we would like to do is have a banner across the street when Allegheny students return to Meadville so that the downtown can welcome them. I am going to look into this project more and get quotes from a couple of places.
The other thing that was mentioned was that it would be good if we could somehow connect with the new President of the college. Andy said that while he is on vacation he is going to work on sending the president an elaborate email describing the Main Street Program and where we stand as of right now.
**IMPORTANT: MEETING TIMES**
It was stated that not everyone can always make it to the early meetings for the Promotions Committee so we are going to try alternating times every other meeting. So it was decided that the next Promotions Committee Meeting would be held at 2:30 @ the bank on July 9, 2008. Then the next meeting after that will probably be at 7:30 again and we will try to alternate like that.
It was also discussed that eventually it would be good to have a meeting with just the chairs of the committees of Promotion, Design, Economic Restructuring, and Organization. This will be worked on.
Right Now the Chairs of the Committees are As Follows:
Promotions: Kathy Coches (Co-Chair) & Viki Allin (Co-Chair)
Organization: Alice Sjolander
Economic Restructuring: Ed Fine?
Design: Not yet determined
Ryan D. Cole
Davies Community Service Leader
Redevelopment Authority of the City Meadville
PROMOTION MINUTES FOR 6-11-08
Thank you everyone who attended this morning's Promotion Committee meeting. A special thanks to the 50's Block Party subcommittee for attending as well. In attendance: Meghan Perry, Ryan Cole, Kathy Coches, Kathy Yeager, Steve Bell, Ellie Davies, Alice Sjolander, Cherie Jones, and Stephanie.
Here is what we covered during the meeting.
Summer Events Calendar- The committee found it hard to get events lists from organizations and businesses. We have decided to target our events promotion for now through the website that Viki is constructing. I made a mistake in reporting the web address for the site today. It is www.makeitmeadville.com . If you have events that you know of you can add them for now yourself or send Viki an email and she can add those events. Dan, we know you had talked about being able to print the summer events fliers would it be possible for you to create small fliers or table tent cards simply advertising our website? Alice has agreed to include the website listing on many of her publications for downtown events.
Directory Flier- Viki has been talking with Stern Marketing to produce a complete directory of our downtown Main Street district with ads sold to support the publication. The committee agreed that she can go ahead and get a proposal from them for the product and bring it to our next meeting. Viki is it possible for people/businesses not in our map area to advertise? Kathy Yaeger expressed an interest to advertise even though she isn't in the Main Street district?
Website- Great Job Viki! Once again the website is www.makeitmeadville.com . Check it out. Right now it is in a blog format but it will continue to change. Ryan and I will work to ask the Chamber, Tourist Bureau and other similar orgs to provide a link to our site from their sites. If you have a chance publicize the website to people. Kathy Coches will be promoting the website through the radio, tv and newspaper.
Bike Trails- Steve Bell created two bike trails for the Meadville area and is continuing to work on more. Thanks Steve! For now we would like to publish them through the website. I am attaching those files to this email so anyone can start to use them. Viki could you have them as downloads on our site?
Up With Downtown, Block Party 50's Style- This event committee came to our meeting today. There will be three separate parts to the day (Aug 2) but all promoted together, Johnny's Drive In at the Market House, American Bandstand at @ the Bank and High School Musical at the Academy. The committee asked for publicity help from the Promotions committee. Steve Bell will be getting the print graphics ready. Dan what would it cost to print fliers as well as a street banner? Would you be willing to donate any of this for the event? Kathy Yeager is working on an advertisement for the next Chamber Chatter.
Next Promotions meeting we did not discuss. Do we want to meet June 25 at 7:30AM? The 50s event committee could meet with us again, so we can help them leading up to their event.
Here is what we covered during the meeting.
Summer Events Calendar- The committee found it hard to get events lists from organizations and businesses. We have decided to target our events promotion for now through the website that Viki is constructing. I made a mistake in reporting the web address for the site today. It is www.makeitmeadville.com . If you have events that you know of you can add them for now yourself or send Viki an email and she can add those events. Dan, we know you had talked about being able to print the summer events fliers would it be possible for you to create small fliers or table tent cards simply advertising our website? Alice has agreed to include the website listing on many of her publications for downtown events.
Directory Flier- Viki has been talking with Stern Marketing to produce a complete directory of our downtown Main Street district with ads sold to support the publication. The committee agreed that she can go ahead and get a proposal from them for the product and bring it to our next meeting. Viki is it possible for people/businesses not in our map area to advertise? Kathy Yaeger expressed an interest to advertise even though she isn't in the Main Street district?
Website- Great Job Viki! Once again the website is www.makeitmeadville.com . Check it out. Right now it is in a blog format but it will continue to change. Ryan and I will work to ask the Chamber, Tourist Bureau and other similar orgs to provide a link to our site from their sites. If you have a chance publicize the website to people. Kathy Coches will be promoting the website through the radio, tv and newspaper.
Bike Trails- Steve Bell created two bike trails for the Meadville area and is continuing to work on more. Thanks Steve! For now we would like to publish them through the website. I am attaching those files to this email so anyone can start to use them. Viki could you have them as downloads on our site?
Up With Downtown, Block Party 50's Style- This event committee came to our meeting today. There will be three separate parts to the day (Aug 2) but all promoted together, Johnny's Drive In at the Market House, American Bandstand at @ the Bank and High School Musical at the Academy. The committee asked for publicity help from the Promotions committee. Steve Bell will be getting the print graphics ready. Dan what would it cost to print fliers as well as a street banner? Would you be willing to donate any of this for the event? Kathy Yeager is working on an advertisement for the next Chamber Chatter.
Next Promotions meeting we did not discuss. Do we want to meet June 25 at 7:30AM? The 50s event committee could meet with us again, so we can help them leading up to their event.
THE FOUR POINTS
"The four-point approach works because it gives every person a chance to be listened to, giving each a platform to do what they think is vital and important for the downtown."
Julie Irish, Program Manager,
Peabody Main Street, Kansas
The National Trust Main Street Center offers a comprehensive commercial district revitalization strategy that has been widely successful in towns and cities nationwide. Described below are the four points of the Main Street approach which work together to build a sustainable and complete community revitalization effort.
Organization involves getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a Main Street revitalization program. A governing board and standing committees make up the fundamental organizational structure of the volunteer-driven program. Volunteers are coordinated and supported by a paid program director as well. This structure not only divides the workload and clearly delineates responsibilities, but also builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders.
Promotion sells a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district. By marketing a district's unique characteristics to residents, investors, business owners, and visitors, an effective promotional strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events, and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers. These activities improve consumer and investor confidence in the district and encourage commercial activity and investment in the area.
Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets — such as historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets — is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere, created through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping, conveys a positive visual message about the commercial district and what it has to offer. Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, and long-term planning.
Economic Restructuring strengthens a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base. The Main Street program helps sharpen the competitiveness of existing business owners and recruits compatible new businesses and new economic uses to build a commercial district that responds to today's consumers' needs. Converting unused or underused commercial space into economically productive property also helps boost the profitability of the district.
Coincidentally, the four points of the Main Street approach correspond with the four forces of real estate value, which are social, political, physical, and economic.
Julie Irish, Program Manager,
Peabody Main Street, Kansas
The National Trust Main Street Center offers a comprehensive commercial district revitalization strategy that has been widely successful in towns and cities nationwide. Described below are the four points of the Main Street approach which work together to build a sustainable and complete community revitalization effort.
Organization involves getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a Main Street revitalization program. A governing board and standing committees make up the fundamental organizational structure of the volunteer-driven program. Volunteers are coordinated and supported by a paid program director as well. This structure not only divides the workload and clearly delineates responsibilities, but also builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders.
Promotion sells a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district. By marketing a district's unique characteristics to residents, investors, business owners, and visitors, an effective promotional strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events, and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers. These activities improve consumer and investor confidence in the district and encourage commercial activity and investment in the area.
Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets — such as historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets — is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere, created through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping, conveys a positive visual message about the commercial district and what it has to offer. Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, and long-term planning.
Economic Restructuring strengthens a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base. The Main Street program helps sharpen the competitiveness of existing business owners and recruits compatible new businesses and new economic uses to build a commercial district that responds to today's consumers' needs. Converting unused or underused commercial space into economically productive property also helps boost the profitability of the district.
Coincidentally, the four points of the Main Street approach correspond with the four forces of real estate value, which are social, political, physical, and economic.
EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS
"For the longest time, we all waited for a white knight to ride into town and fix the problem. But the Main Street people made us realize that the only way to get it done right was to do it ourselves."
Russell Thomas, mayor of Americus, Georgia
The National Trust Main Street Center's experience in helping communities bring their commercial corridors back to life has shown time and time again that the Main Street Four-Point Approach succeeds. That success is guided by the following eight principles, which set the Main Street methodology apart from other redevelopment strategies. For a Main Street program to be successful, it must whole-heartedly embrace the following time-tested Eight Principles.
* Comprehensive: No single focus — lavish public improvements, name-brand business recruitment, or endless promotional events — can revitalize Main Street. For successful, sustainable, long-term revitalization, a comprehensive approach, including activity in each of Main Street's Four Points, is essential.
* Incremental: Baby steps come before walking. Successful revitalization programs begin with basic, simple activities that demonstrate that "new things are happening " in the commercial district. As public confidence in the Main Street district grows and participants' understanding of the revitalization process becomes more sophisticated, Main Street is able to tackle increasingly complex problems and more ambitious projects. This incremental change leads to much longer-lasting and dramatic positive change in the Main Street area.
* Self-help: No one else will save your Main Street. Local leaders must have the will and desire to mobilize local resources and talent. That means convincing residents and business owners of the rewards they'll reap by investing time and money in Main Street — the heart of their community. Only local leadership can produce long-term success by fostering and demonstrating community involvement and commitment to the revitalization effort.
* Partnerships: Both the public and private sectors have a vital interest in the district and must work together to achieve common goals of Main Street's revitalization. Each sector has a role to play and each must understand the other's strengths and limitations in order to forge an effective partnership.
After years of being closed, the Lyric Theater, Harrison, Ark., was rehabilitated and turned into a community theater through the leadership of Main Street Harrison.
Identifying and capitalizing on existing assets: Business districts must capitalize on the assets that make them unique. Every district has unique qualities like distinctive buildings and human scale that give people a sense of belonging. These local assets must serve as the foundation for all aspects of the revitalization program.
* Quality: Emphasize quality in every aspect of the revitalization program. This applies to all elements of the process — from storefront designs to promotional campaigns to educational programs. Shoestring budgets and "cut and paste" efforts reinforce a negative image of the commercial district. Instead, concentrate on quality projects over quantity.
* Change: Skeptics turn into believers and attitudes on Main Street will turn around. At first, almost no one believes Main Street can really turn around. Changes in attitude and practice are slow but definite — public support for change will build as the Main Street program grows and consistently meets its goals. Change also means engaging in better business practices, altering ways of thinking, and improving the physical appearance of the commercial district. A carefully planned Main Street program will help shift public perceptions and practices to support and sustain the revitalization process.
* Implementation: To succeed, Main Street must show visible results that can only come from completing projects. Frequent, visible changes are a reminder that the revitalization effort is under way and succeeding. Small projects at the beginning of the program pave the way for larger ones as the revitalization effort matures, and that constant revitalization activity creates confidence in the Main Street program and ever-greater levels of participation.
Russell Thomas, mayor of Americus, Georgia
The National Trust Main Street Center's experience in helping communities bring their commercial corridors back to life has shown time and time again that the Main Street Four-Point Approach succeeds. That success is guided by the following eight principles, which set the Main Street methodology apart from other redevelopment strategies. For a Main Street program to be successful, it must whole-heartedly embrace the following time-tested Eight Principles.
* Comprehensive: No single focus — lavish public improvements, name-brand business recruitment, or endless promotional events — can revitalize Main Street. For successful, sustainable, long-term revitalization, a comprehensive approach, including activity in each of Main Street's Four Points, is essential.
* Incremental: Baby steps come before walking. Successful revitalization programs begin with basic, simple activities that demonstrate that "new things are happening " in the commercial district. As public confidence in the Main Street district grows and participants' understanding of the revitalization process becomes more sophisticated, Main Street is able to tackle increasingly complex problems and more ambitious projects. This incremental change leads to much longer-lasting and dramatic positive change in the Main Street area.
* Self-help: No one else will save your Main Street. Local leaders must have the will and desire to mobilize local resources and talent. That means convincing residents and business owners of the rewards they'll reap by investing time and money in Main Street — the heart of their community. Only local leadership can produce long-term success by fostering and demonstrating community involvement and commitment to the revitalization effort.
* Partnerships: Both the public and private sectors have a vital interest in the district and must work together to achieve common goals of Main Street's revitalization. Each sector has a role to play and each must understand the other's strengths and limitations in order to forge an effective partnership.
After years of being closed, the Lyric Theater, Harrison, Ark., was rehabilitated and turned into a community theater through the leadership of Main Street Harrison.
Identifying and capitalizing on existing assets: Business districts must capitalize on the assets that make them unique. Every district has unique qualities like distinctive buildings and human scale that give people a sense of belonging. These local assets must serve as the foundation for all aspects of the revitalization program.
* Quality: Emphasize quality in every aspect of the revitalization program. This applies to all elements of the process — from storefront designs to promotional campaigns to educational programs. Shoestring budgets and "cut and paste" efforts reinforce a negative image of the commercial district. Instead, concentrate on quality projects over quantity.
* Change: Skeptics turn into believers and attitudes on Main Street will turn around. At first, almost no one believes Main Street can really turn around. Changes in attitude and practice are slow but definite — public support for change will build as the Main Street program grows and consistently meets its goals. Change also means engaging in better business practices, altering ways of thinking, and improving the physical appearance of the commercial district. A carefully planned Main Street program will help shift public perceptions and practices to support and sustain the revitalization process.
* Implementation: To succeed, Main Street must show visible results that can only come from completing projects. Frequent, visible changes are a reminder that the revitalization effort is under way and succeeding. Small projects at the beginning of the program pave the way for larger ones as the revitalization effort matures, and that constant revitalization activity creates confidence in the Main Street program and ever-greater levels of participation.
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