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State help eyed for city downtown

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Stevens Point wants to join the Wisconsin Main Street Program to help revitalize the downtown area.

Spearheaded by the Association of Downtown Businesses (ADB), the city is moving forward on an application to seek assistance from the program, which is part of the Bureau of Downtown Development, Department of Commerce.

The program doesn't offer grants, just assistance, and leaves it to the communities to develop plans for the organization, planning and financial commitment to carry out a program to revitalize downtown.

Jim Engle, director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Downtown Development, and Todd Barman, assistant coordinator of the program, were in Stevens Point Tuesday and Wednesday to visit the downtown area and meet with community members.

At a public meeting Wednesday night, Ron Blaha, ADB president, said the city has to identify seven segments in its application for assistance: physical capacity, historic identity, need, organizational capability, public sector commitment, private sector commitment and financial capacity.

Engle said the state program is part of the National Main Street Center, which traces its roots to a program begun in 1977 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The center started in 1980 and has expanded into 44 states and more than 1,650 communities.

The Wisconsin program is an economic development program that targets the state's historic commercial districts, providing technical support and training to communities that show a grass roots commitment to revitalizing traditional business districts using a comprehensive strategy based on historic preservation.

Engle said the city shouldn't expect the program to revitalize the area overnight. The decline in the downtown took years to occur and will take years to rebuild, he said.

The city of Stevens Point has undertaken revitalization projects in the past downtown, but this one is different. Instead of the city initiating and spearheading the program, downtown businesses are doing it.

Engle said the state started with five communities in 1988 and now has 33 involved, including Wausau, Marshfield, Waupaca and Tigerton.

The state provides five years of intensive training and technical assistance, he said, and then communities can continue in the program. "This isn't a project," he said. "A project means there's an end. A program means it's ongoing, it's a long-term program."

The program follows eight principles, he said, listing comprehensive strategy, incremental steps, self-help, partnerships, unique downtown assets, high standard of quality, change in attitude and practice and implementation.

The program also takes a four-point approach, he said, listing four committees that need to be formed and continue functioning for the program to be successful.

The Organization Committee, he said, has to deal with fund raising, volunteer development, promoting the program and administration, which will require hiring a Main Street manager and devising annual work plans.

The Promotion Committee, he said, will be responsible to develop programs for image building, special events, retail promotions and tourism.

Engle said the Design Committee will deal with building rehabilitation projects, education, design review and improving all aspects of design.

The fourth committee is the Economic Restructuring Committee, he said, and it will be responsible for market analysis, business retention and expansion, business recruitment, real estate development and incentive programs.

The Wisconsin center will provide technical assistance with a kickoff visit, program manager interviewing, program manager training, volunteer training, work plan workshops, resource team, program assessment visits, market analysis visits, phone assistance, workbooks and manuals, designs and business assistance, he said.

He and Barman reiterated that the work on the program will have to be done locally, not by the center staff.
"These programs have shown better results than the large grant programs," Barman said, pointing to the program's evaluation that public and private investment have totaled $518,814,179 in communities involved in the state's Main Street Program since 1988.

"I see a lot of opportunities," Engle said about the possibilities for Stevens Point. "You have some opportunities for business growth, historic building rehabs. You have some vacancies."

"You have potential with the river," added Barman. "You can improve the connection."

Participation in the program will have ebbs and flows, they said.

"A number of businesses that open and stay will grow," Barman said. "Don't be discouraged by businesses closing. You will see some businesses that will exist for only three or four years and then go away with a fad. The cumulative returns are higher than the annual ones."

Blaha said the city's objective is to be accepted into the program. "We're working very hard to get accepted. We will still do the process even if we aren't accepted. We will have a program manager." He said the ADB has already formed the four committees and they are outlining their objectives.

Barman encouraged people to write letters of support for the program.

Engle said once a city is in the program, they stay in the program and remain committed to it, participating in assistance provided by the state.

"We want to keep communities that went through the five-year intensive program," Barman said. "We have so much to learn from them. We provide a minimal amount of service, but we see this as something that should be created forever."

The financial commitment to the program needs to continue after the initial three- to five-year period, and Engle said most city governments have continued to support about one-third of the program costs.

Barman said some communities have created a Business Improvement District (BID) that assesses property within the downtown area to help pay for part of the program, supplementing money raised from membership dues or donations.

The ADB has set an annual budget of $95,000 for the next three years to fund its "Main Street Initiative," with about two-thirds of that amount going to manager-related expenses and office operations.

The ADB is accepting donations for the program at Association of Downtown Businesses, PO Box 675, Stevens Point, WI 54481. If individuals or businesses are unable to donate cash, goods or services will also be accepted.

In addition, the ADB also welcomes Main Street support letters that express support for the program and benefits to the community. Those letters can be sent to the ADB.



	State help eyed for city downtown By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Stevens Point wants to join the Wisconsin Main Street Program to help revitalize the downtown area. Spearheaded by the Association of Downtown Businesses (ADB), the city is moving forward on an application to seek assistance from the program, which is part of the Bureau of Downtown Development, Department of Commerce. The program doesn't offer grants, just assistance, and leaves it to the communities to develop plans for the organization, planning and financial commitment to carry out a program to revitalize downtown. Jim Engle, director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Downtown Development, and Todd Barman, assistant coordinator of the program, were in Stevens Point Tuesday and Wednesday to visit the downtown area and meet with community members. At a public meeting Wednesday night, Ron Blaha, ADB president, said the city has to identify seven segments in its application for assistance: physical capacity, historic identity, need, organizational capability, public sector commitment, private sector commitment and financial capacity. Engle said the state program is part of the National Main Street Center, which traces its roots to a program begun in 1977 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The center started in 1980 and has expanded into 44 states and more than 1,650 communities. The Wisconsin program is an economic development program that targets the state's historic commercial districts, providing technical support and training to communities that show a grass roots commitment to revitalizing traditional business districts using a comprehensive strategy based on historic preservation. Engle said the city shouldn't expect the program to revitalize the area overnight. The decline in the downtown took years to occur and will take years to rebuild, he said. The city of Stevens Point has undertaken revitalization projects in the past downtown, but this one is different. Instead of the city initiating and spearheading the program, downtown businesses are doing it. Engle said the state started with five communities in 1988 and now has 33 involved, including Wausau, Marshfield, Waupaca and Tigerton. The state provides five years of intensive training and technical assistance, he said, and then communities can continue in the program. "This isn't a project," he said. "A project means there's an end. A program means it's ongoing, it's a long-term program." The program follows eight principles, he said, listing comprehensive strategy, incremental steps, self-help, partnerships, unique downtown assets, high standard of quality, change in attitude and practice and implementation. The program also takes a four-point approach, he said, listing four committees that need to be formed and continue functioning for the program to be successful. The Organization Committee, he said, has to deal with fund raising, volunteer development, promoting the program and administration, which will require hiring a Main Street manager and devising annual work plans. The Promotion Committee, he said, will be responsible to develop programs for image building, special events, retail promotions and tourism. Engle said the Design Committee will deal with building rehabilitation projects, education, design review and improving all aspects of design. The fourth committee is the Economic Restructuring Committee, he said, and it will be responsible for market analysis, business retention and expansion, business recruitment, real estate development and incentive programs. The Wisconsin center will provide technical assistance with a kickoff visit, program manager interviewing, program manager training, volunteer training, work plan workshops, resource team, program assessment visits, market analysis visits, phone assistance, workbooks and manuals, designs and business assistance, he said. He and Barman reiterated that the work on the program will have to be done locally, not by the center staff. "These programs have shown better results than the large grant programs," Barman said, pointing to the program's evaluation that public and private investment have totaled $518,814,179 in communities involved in the state's Main Street Program since 1988. "I see a lot of opportunities," Engle said about the possibilities for Stevens Point. "You have some opportunities for business growth, historic building rehabs. You have some vacancies." "You have potential with the river," added Barman. "You can improve the connection." Participation in the program will have ebbs and flows, they said. "A number of businesses that open and stay will grow," Barman said. "Don't be discouraged by businesses closing. You will see some businesses that will exist for only three or four years and then go away with a fad. The cumulative returns are higher than the annual ones." Blaha said the city's objective is to be accepted into the program. "We're working very hard to get accepted. We will still do the process even if we aren't accepted. We will have a program manager." He said the ADB has already formed the four committees and they are outlining their objectives. Barman encouraged people to write letters of support for the program. Engle said once a city is in the program, they stay in the program and remain committed to it, participating in assistance provided by the state. "We want to keep communities that went through the five-year intensive program," Barman said. "We have so much to learn from them. We provide a minimal amount of service, but we see this as something that should be created forever." The financial commitment to the program needs to continue after the initial three- to five-year period, and Engle said most city governments have continued to support about one-third of the program costs. Barman said some communities have created a Business Improvement District (BID) that assesses property within the downtown area to help pay for part of the program, supplementing money raised from membership dues or donations. The ADB has set an annual budget of $95,000 for the next three years to fund its "Main Street Initiative," with about two-thirds of that amount going to manager-related expenses and office operations. The ADB is accepting donations for the program at Association of Downtown Businesses, PO Box 675, Stevens Point, WI 54481. If individuals or businesses are unable to donate cash, goods or services will also be accepted. In addition, the ADB also welcomes Main Street support letters that express support for the program and benefits to the community. Those letters can be sent to the ADB.