Last year, my wife was doing some research on Main Street programs around the country and thinking we should follow the lead of progressive places like Brookings and start a Main Street program of our own. She called the Lake Area Improvement Corporation, our local economic development agency, and asked if they could use some help getting a program like that going. No worries, the LAIC told us: they were working on just such a program and planned to roll it out come this spring. (On Erin's offer to volunteer, the LAIC said nothing.)
So spring rolled by, and we started to get worried. Where's the Main Street program?
Ah ha -- now it's here. The LAIC May/June newsletter (PDF warning!) announces the creation of "Madison Main Street and More." Filling the store fronts, restoring the old façades, creating green spaces downtown—yum! A reinvestment ratio (as of 2006) of $25.76 generated in the local economy for every $1 invested—super yum!
Tammy Jo Zingmark appears to be the point person on this project: she does the main write-up and invites folks interested in volunteering for the program to call her at the LAIC (256-0797).
If Tammy Jo Zingmark is in charge of developing the Main Street program for Madison, it will be a good one. She has energy and drive and should contribute nicely to restoring our anchor for business which is mainstreet. This is something we've needed for a long time downtown.
ReplyDeleteThey better be moving fast. If you talk to retailers downtown and if they are honest with you, they will tell you that they are barely holding on - business has been bad for a very long time in downtown Madison.
ReplyDeleteHopefully with the increased fuel costs, more people will start to shop locally. I know I am doing more of it.
ReplyDeleteBuy local... and read local! :-)
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that hometown loyalty is rare among consumers anymore. Walmart and HyVee have taught us that larger is better, price is more important than convenience and you're right...The price of fuel is going to cause more people to shop at home.
ReplyDeleteWill retailers respond by offering better selections and competitive pricing to accomodate them? The biggest problem facing small town retailers is the buying power of large franchises. They buy for less and sell for less. Madison is becoming a service business community, relying less and less on retailers.
I give Dick Fawbush credit for continuing to evolve his business to meet demand, adding women's attire and shoes when all the women's stores closed up and Burg's went away.
Tammy Jo will not be in charge of this project anymore. She left the LAIC on Monday.
ReplyDeleteNo more Tammy Jo? That was fast! Where's she headed? Is the LAIC hiring a replacement?
ReplyDeleteIt could be just not the right match, which happens. Someone told me the Chamber position was almost a place people were set up to fail due to lack of resources, which should not be a problem for the LAIC. We need more and better jobs here almost desperately in my opinion, so I'm frustrated not to see successful job growth from the LAIC. Volunteers used to bring in new businesses? What's the real story? Does anyone know?
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