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6/30/2008 |
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Downtown groups partner to improve service |
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Downtown groups partner to improve service
DDA, MainStreet merge; foundation joins in projects
By LIZ SHEPARD
Times Herald
• June 30, 2008
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Local organizations are coming together with a goal to rejuvenate Port Huron's downtown.
MainStreet Port Huron officially merged with the city's Downtown Development Authority on June 1.
Additionally, on Friday the Community Foundation of St. Clair County took the reins of the former MainStreet welcome center, said Randy Maiers, president and chief executive officer of the foundation.
MainStreet committees have remained intact and become a part of the DDA.
In return for the Community Foundation's leadership, the DDA will contribute $100,000 toward implementing a vision plan for downtown shaped by local agencies.
"Now we can really get some things moving for the vision plan for Port Huron," Maiers said.
Tara Russell, the Community Foundation's director of art and culture, customer service and special events, is overseeing the former MainStreet staff and welcome center.
Kurt Eppley, a member of the MainStreet promotions committee and former MainStreet president, said the merger will cut costs on things like insurance and should increase programming. It is usual for the two organizations to be connected in other communities, he said.
Randy Fernandez, DDA executive director, said bringing together organizations with similar interests is necessary.
"You can't have separate agendas, you have to have one vision," he said.
Partnerships already have begun downtown.
The organizations are "aggressively marketing some key buildings that are vacant," Maiers said.
Two top spots include the Celtic Ray and a building next to the Zebra Bar on Quay Street, he said.
Financial incentives including low-interest loans, zero-interest loans and partially forgivable loans for potential buyers.
A new customer service program also is being piloted through the new partnerships in July and August.
Six downtown customer service representatives will be traveling on golf carts throughout downtown, answering questions, beautifying the area and helping merchants, Maiers said.
"Our goal is to make it an enjoyable place to do business and visit," he said.
The two-month-long program will cost less than $5,000 to operate.
The city's DDA, Community Foundation, MainStreet, Blue Water Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce and the city have started working on the vision plan, Fernandez said.
"The attitude now is let's continue to work together," Maiers said.
Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com.
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