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Madison Rising Sun Elkhart
Madison
Rising Sun Elkhart
What is the Mission of Indiana Main Street?
To encourage economic development, redevelopment, and improvement of the downtown areas of Indiana cities and towns. The program is founded on community and economic development that emphasizes the preservation and development of traditionaldowntown resources.
How are others successful?
1. Passion
2. Partnerships
3. Plans
4. Perseverance
What is the Foundation of the Main Street Approach?
Main Street is founded on 4 Points Organization
Is the backbone of the organizational structure. Design
Provides the tangible improvements in the downtown. What you can see, touch, and feel.
Promotion Focuses on shopping downtown and downtown tourism.
Getting people to shop downtown. Economic Restructuring
Focuses on assisting existing downtown businesses and attracting new businesses.
Organization
Purpose: The purpose of the Organization Committee is vital in keeping the Board, Committees, Staff, and overall Program sustainable. It is the foundation of a good Main Street group. This Committee takes responsibility for managing the financial and logistical aspects of a nonprofit organization.
Organization Continued Duties: Fundraising (see attached sheet)
Membership Grants City/County Allowance Project Specific
Events Development of a park Façade Program
Volunteer Recruitment and Management (see attached sheet)
Who Serves on the Organization Committee? Likely Candidates:Merchants, property owners, residents, civic group volunteers, accountants, media representatives, volunteer specialists, attorneys
Organization Continued Promoting the Program
Newsletter Letter to Editor in newspapers Radio Shows Other not-for-profit events/speaking engagements
Managing the Finances Work Plans Budgets
Managing Staff Employee Handbook
Guiding the Program Policy Manual Bylaws
Design
Purpose: The purpose of the Design Committee is in shaping the physical appearance/image of downtown to shoppers, investors, business owners, and visitors. This is the visual component of the Main Street Approach and very vital to the success of the Program.
Design ContinuedDuties:
1. Educate The entire community is your class. It is important to educate
everyone on the importance of preserving buildings and good design for a successful downtown.
Take people on tours of your district with knowledgeable individuals who can talk about architecture and storefront design – discuss Main Street’s assets and liabilities.
Be creative in your education to the public by designing unusual social activities to entice people like: tours, contests, displays, and media stories.
Design Continued2. Provide good design assistance
Storefronts Paint Windows Awnings Overall design
Keep a scrapbook of great design ideas and have a rehab resource library Have paint and awning samples kit Have a Design Team who can assist business owners. Streetscape improvement plans
3. Plan for development Comprehensive Streetscape Plan (one block at a time)
Flowers/Trees/Hanging baskets/flower pots Sidewalks/lighting/trashcans/benches/bicycle racks Maintenance plan
Design Guidelines
Design Continued4. Create Incentives
Façade Improvement Program Design Assistance Program Zoning Become knowledgeable about Historic Tax credits through the
State and Federal governments
Who Serves on the Design Committee? Likely candidates:Architects, history buffs, real estate agents, interior designers, contractors, graphic designers and artists, downtown property owners, architecture students, city planners, people who want to be “part of the action”
Promotion
Purpose: The purpose of the Promotion Committee is to PROMOTE downtown as the center of commerce, culture, and community life for residents and visitors. The Promotion Committee must think outside of the box to get people to shop and visit downtown.
Promotion Continued
Duties: 1. Understand the market
Potential shoppers The competition
2. Identify downtown assets People, buildings, heritage, and institutions
3. Define the downtown’s niche market4. Create NEW image campaigns, retail promotions and special
events
Who Serves on the Promotion Committee?Likely Candidates:
Downtown merchants, chamber of commerce members, civic groups involved in the arts, marketing/advertising professionals, teachers of marketing or design, staff in advertising or tourism offices, reporters and editors, graphic designers, people who want to be “part of the action”
Economic Restructuring
Purpose: The Purpose of the Economic Restructuring Committee is to identify new market opportunities for the traditional commercial district, find new uses for historic commercial buildings, and stimulate investment in property. The Committee also works with existing businesses in retaining them in the downtown as well.
Economic Restructuring Continued
Duties:1. Learn about the current economic condition and identify
opportunities for market growth Census of Population
Examine the 2 most recent Census reports and compare demographics
Census of Retail Trade Compare retail sales from the most recent Census to those
from 5 years ago Examine past 5 years of State sales tax reports for your community Trends in the assessed value of Main Street real estate Any market analyses recently conducted by chain stores or
franchises that have opened in the area.
Economic Restructuring Continued2. Retain Existing Businesses
Educational Programs for Business Owners Microsoft Programs Customer Service Classes Social Media Merchandising Quickbooks
3. Recruit new businesses4. Find new economic uses for traditional Main Street buildings
Housing Find space in under-used upper-floor spaces and large, white-elephant
buildings. Work with Zoning/Planning
Revise land use regulations to allow a broad range of uses downtown Small-scale industry
Use vacant space for industries such as publishing, telecommunications, small-scale assembly operations, craft industries, and consulting firm
ER Continued5. Develop Financial Incentives and Capital
Façade Improvement Programs BID TIF Economic Development Target Area (tax abatement)
6. Monitor the economic performance of the district Collect base-line data Record information on economic change Measure annual performance
The Economic Restructuring Committee will need to work closely with the other Main Street Committees to do their tasks.
Who Serves on the Economic Restructuring Committee?Likely Candidates:Merchants, property owners, realtors, mortgage bankers, consumers, marketing professionals, developers, stock brokers, business students, representatives of Small Business Development Centers, City/County Government, real estate, Economic Development, Chamber
Economic Restructuring ContinuedExamples of Economic Restructuring Committee Projects
1. Building Inventory (with Design Committee)/Business Inventory2. Data Collection3. Downtown Business Survey/Downtown User Survey4. Inventory of Vacant space5. Revision of community’s comprehensive plan6. Financial incentive program to develop upper-floor housing7. Matching-fund grant pool8. Visual merchandising seminars9. Low-interest loans10. Real estate market analysis11. Business Improvement seminars12. Business Cluster Analysis13. Identification of sources14. Financial incentive program for business expansion or improvements
Our community just joined Indiana Main Street, what is the next step?
1. Do you have an organizational structure? a. Do you have a set group who will serve as
the Main Street Board?b.Do you have responsibilities for each member who
will be part of the “Board”? How many meetings do I have to attend? How long are these meetings? What is expected of me?
Our community just joined Indiana Main Street, what is the next step?
2. Do you have a mission statement for the Main Street organization?
To develop a mission statement, the group must decide the purpose or intent of the Main Street group. You must define WHO YOU ARE.
Example: City Main Street is a 501 c 3 organization dedicated tomaking downtown City a great place to live, a thrivingplace to operate a business, and a fun place to visit.
Our community just joined Indiana Main Street, what is the next step?
3.Do you have a vision statement for the Main Street organization? To develop a mission statement, the group
must decide WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
Example: Main Street packet – A Vision for the Future
Our community just joined Indiana Main Street, what is the next step?
5.Are you set up as a not-for-profit? If not, is there another group you can use
their not-for-profit status to apply for grants? Do you want to be your own 501 c 3
organization? If you do, is there someone within the community
who can help you fill out the paperwork? (A lawyer? An Accountant? Another not-for-profit group?)
How do we get volunteers to be on the Board or Committees?
1. Host a public meeting.2. Explain what the goals are of the
organization and the mission.3. Explain what the 4 Committees are.4. Have a sign up sheet for each of the
Committees.5. Set a date and time for follow up meeting.
Projects for New Communities
Organization1. Determine a fundraising activity to start funds
coming in for the organization.2. Set up bylaws for the organization.3. Begin promotion of the organization through
FREE avenues!
Projects for New Communities
Promotion1. Partner with the merchants to do a
promotional event to bring people downtown.2. Create a new downtown event to get people
to shop downtown.
Projects for New Communities
Design1. Plant flowers2. Downtown Green-Clean Days3. Design Guidelines4. Work with Historic Landmarks or local Historic
Preservation groups to develop downtown workshops or educational programs.
Projects for New Communities
Economic Restructuring1. Take an inventory and pictures of all of the
buildings and properties downtown.2. Work with business owners and the Small
Business Development Center to come up with educational workshops for the downtown or S.C.O.R.E. chapters.
3. Do a survey of all businesses downtown to see what their needs are.
Main Street BoardWho Is Represented on Main Street Boards (not a complete list)?
Commercial district’s property owners Retailers Professionals Lenders City/County Officials Business Association members Heads of neighborhood organizations Retirees Recognized community leaders Industry leaders Local civic organizations Preservation and/or historical societies Media Real Estate
Main Street Board ContinuedHow Many Usually Serve on Main Street Boards? Between 9-15
How Long Should They Serve? Most Main Street organizations have a 3 year term limiting each member to a 2
term limit. After the first term the Board member may opt out from a second term. If they chose to stay active for their second term, they must come off at the end of the second term and lay off the Board for at least 1 year. They may still be on Committees and work as a volunteer. This helps organizations stay refreshed and ready to work.
Ex-Officio Members The number of Ex-Officio members is dependant on your bylaws and who it says
or how many the bylaws say you may have. Normally this is where your Chamber, Economic Development, City/County Government fall.
Committee
Who are your Committee members? Anyone who has an interest in what your Committee does.How do you get Committee members? Publicize everywhere Host a public meeting Invite friends and friends of those friendsWhat does your Committee do? Hold meetings
to develop plan, measure progress, and brainstorm ideas Nominate a Chair of the Committee
This needs to be someone from the Board so they can report what the Committee is doing to the Board at those meetings as well.
Chair will run meetings and set agenda for each meeting. The agenda can be the work plan and reviewing it each month and
the progress.
Committees Continued Nominate a Secretary for the Committee
Minutes will be turned in to Chair who will forward those out with meeting reminders and agenda for the next meeting.
Develop a Work Plan for the Committee Determine projects, budgets, timelines, and responsible parties for
a 12 month period. Visit stakeholders (like downtown business owners)
To get ideas, find out how businesses are doing, and to update them on plans
Work with other Committees as needed to finish projects
Opportunities for Indiana Main Street Communities
Building Site Locator Database Indiana Main Street communities can list properties
that are for sale, rent, or lease in your downtown area. Through this internet database, users are able to enter
their specifications to search for available historic downtown properties throughout the state.
A great marketing tool for communities utilize to help sell usable properties in their downtown area.
Visit the site at www.ocra.in.gov and click on Indiana Main Street Building Site Locator to see
how easy it is.
Madison
Rising Sun
CONTACT INFORMATION
Indiana Main StreetOne North Capitol, Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46204800-824-2476
http://www.ocra.IN.gov
Shae YoungProgram Manager
(317) [email protected]
