To Enhance the Historic Charm of Downtown Monroe while Encouraging Diverse Commerce, Tourism and increased Sense of Community utilizing the National Main Street Approach Page 1 of 9
BLUE: COMPLETED 0-3 months GREEN: IN PROGRESS 4-6 MONTHS BLACK: IN PLANNING 7 MONTHS Corporate Name National Main St Membership Domain Registration Articles of Incorporation Washington State Registration Federal Non-Profit EIN By-Laws, Conflict of Interest Vision/Mission Statements Newspaper Articles Board Orientation Book, Training Membership Application form Insurance Liability, D &O Strategic Planning Retreat Strategic Plan Review, Wa. State Director Agenda Management Minute Management Bank Account Treasurer Reports Third Thursday, Community Roundtable Meetings City, Main St. Point person Chamber Coordination Meetings Written Thankyou w receipts Logo, letterhead, Business Cards DMA office space Council Presentation Facebook Page Office, furnishings, Computer, software, phone Newsletter, Dec 2015, then quarterly report to building, business owners, residents to keep them informed and engaged. Volunteer Packet, network development Volunteer Hours, Management, Tracking IRS 1023 Application for 501(C)3, review by Wa. State Executive Director DMA Tri-fold Information, plans, contacts, meetings, investment levels Building and Business Database, photos, sq.ft, contact DMA presentations to other groups to find mutual concerns and benefits Market Place Event participation Annual meeting awards Office equipment PLANNING, FUNDING AND STAFFING TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIC PLAN Web Page, MS Tech Soup and other NPO support Matching Hours Application for Main Street Program Nov 2016* Annual Fundraising Drive Banners, A-board signage One on One with Corporations Open House Vacant Spaces, retail emphasis w nearby towns, incubators. ONGOING/UPDATES Fundraising List Grants, Corporate Matching Funds List Monroe Business Database Photo Collections Orientations, Up Date Orientation Book Signatures on Conflict of Interest Newspaper Articles Agendas, Minutes, Reports *Within One year (Nov 2017) full-time Executive Director. Quarterly online Reports: Statistics, key performance measures and progress of org Annual Trends Survey Revitalize Wa Preservation & Main Street Conference; Annual Main Street Retreat; Main Street Leadership Meetings Page 2 of 9 ORGANIZATION
BLUE: COMPLETED 0-3 months GREEN: IN PROGRESS 4-6 MONTHS BLACK: IN PLANNING 7 months > PROJECT: Adding Trees to Hardscapes on Main To reduce noise, dust, rain runoff, calms traffic, pedestrian views area as safer, cleaner, cooling, environmental. Action items: Eleven containers, move by elec. outlets, centering to break-up hardscape line of view. Speak to all business owners, adjust to their needs. City help to move their containers. Products: Donated trees, plants, lights, labor Trees 3 yrs. container growth, donate to other city needs. Add/subtract plants as needed. Projected Maintenance: Tree replacement 3 yrs. Annual plants, as needed. VALUE Products & Labor; $5,000.00, 11/2015 PROJECT: Adding LED Warm White Lights to Trees and City Street poles. Adding Pedestrian level lights to trees, highlighting and expanding streetlamp wreath décor. LED environmental, Holiday ambiance. Action Items: Permission City; Count number of light strings needed., test for color Test light intensity, fit for trees. Products: Find battery LED lights for unpowered trees. String trees & streetlights. Projected Maintenance: Removal and Storage VALUE Products & Labor: $500 Downtown Beautification. Page 3 of 9 PROJECT: Vacant Window Displays Store windows advertise; instead of empty and abandoned, they can: inform-incentives & grants, promote events, and non-profits, engage students in design for school events, add to holiday displays Action items: Window painter, contact building owners, permission form. Maintenance: Clean windows. Ongoing display through year, link to needs. VALUE: Downtown beautification, economic Education: Storefront use of LED lights, and timers for 24 hour, 7 day week promotion and warm ambiance of downtown at night. DESIGN PROJECT: Seasonal Window Display Contests, Vote by customers. Action items: Education, provide examples. Award (exchange hotel/dinner w other Main St). PROJECT: Streetscape doorways Education examples of drawing pedestrian eyes to doorways by displays. PROJECT (phased): Roofline outline with permanent LED bulbs Task material list, contacting building owners permissions. Donated professional install. Cost projections $7,000-10,000 Problem light/color match. PROJECT: Downtown Parking Correcting perceptions, providing maps, employee parking rewards, shared parking lots, Parking directional signage. (sensitive project). Suggest PBIA fund 3-4 years, 2018. PROJECT: Sculpture(s) Downtown Working with M.A.C Explore Interactive, Fountain, Sound, Stage or combination to provide activity, cooling, soften traffic noise, and hardscape, visible destination for pedestrians. PROJECT: Façade Grant, including Signs. 10,000. Returning buildings to their historic design. Architect on committee, before and after photos, provide statistics on improvements=sales increases. PROJECT: Downtown Directional Signage from hwy 2 Signage such as archway, that defines downtown importance as center of community, while reminding high traffic counts along newer shopping corridors that downtown is an option. PROJECT: Public Parking lots conversion to Event Space/Pocket Parks use Explore potential space, event size. PROJECT: Portable Stages (semi-truck box container stage) for downtown, parks & rental income.. PROJECT: Litter Program, (Graffiti as needed), using KAB, Keep America Beautiful program
Events Create Memorable Experiences Events must tantalize all the senses to create a true positive experience sight, smell, sound, taste and touch. Participate with other organizations Assist or partner with other organizations on existing and new events and activities that impact downtown core growth. Halloween, Christmas, Parade, Art. Recognized Event Cards Merchant Annual Sign-up Sheet for Event Participation and Volunteer Opportunities. Goal get more businesses involved in events. Retail Expansion Festivals Downtown Hoedown Dance, Classic Truck & Tractor Night Parade, DMA fundraiser, Marketplace, donated venue, Dancing. BIKE CLINICS Attracting New Businesses to Downtowns. Downtown-wide Garage Sale coincide with annual Fairground event, late June. Adopt an artist for a week to feature the City of Monroe s most distinguished artists.consider hosting a mobile hot shop where visitors can experience the lure of live glassblowing LIVE Window Display, Art Walk Una animada celebración de los muertos Adding to existing events: Hometown Holidays for authentic experiences. Lighted Parade, Holiday Market walk Caroling Contest. This annual parade attracts 10,000 people. Develop a more aggressive social media campaign Search and utilize online, community calendars to help promote downtown. Page 4 of 9 PROMOTION
First Quarterly Report to Monroe City Council: Creating a Vision Developing a Plan Incremental, visible accomplishments Long Term Change Downtown Monroe Association The National Main Street Approach is a comprehensive, incremental formula for economic development. This Approach is effective when a group of citizens, create a vision, discover the key points of their current circumstances, develop an implementation plan for change, raise the funding, and then Just Do It. Mission Statement: To Enhance the Historic Charm of Downtown Monroe while encouraging diverse commerce, tourism and increased sense of community utilizing the National Main Street Approach. Vision Statement: The DMA strives to promote activities, restoration and vibrancy that reflect and enhance the foundation of our downtown community Page 5 of 9
To succeed, DMA must show visible results of completed projects: Parking Map: Customer/Employee Short term projects that produce highly visible change Long term activities that add up to meaningful change. SHORT TERM ACTIONS are critical to DMA success in securing community buy-in and a following of volunteers. Lighter-Quicker-Cheaper Page 6 of 9
Identifying milestones for long-term projects to create a sense of forward momentum To reinforce the community need for sustained focus on revitalization efforts Doorway Design Flag Pole Tree Measuring outcomes to demonstrate the wise use of funds, for Grantor and Donors Alleyway Improvements LONG TERM ACTIONS The building blocks for sustainable change over time. Identify projects that have lasting, long term effect for downtown. Page 7 of 9
Strategic Plan 2015 # 60b Window lists historic, façade grant, city incentives Event promotion + Destination Windows VACANT WINDOWS Going beyond advertising empty and abandoned. To advertising. OPPORTUNITIES waiting for investors and existing businesses Grants, City incentives, assistance listed on a window. EVENTS to Enjoy Promoting local events while creating designer destination windows. NON-PROFITS to rally behind Getting facts out on the streets about Monroe s many 501c3 organizations dedicated to improving community. STUDENTS to Learn Engaging students in design and entrepreneurship in downtowns by advertising their High School events. HOLIDAYS Downtown s iconic seasonal displays Page 8 of 9
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