Downtown Revitalization

1. Downtown Revitalization Create a healthy, vibrant and walkable downtown by expanding and attracting employment, shopping and social activities

2. Downtown RevitalizationTeam • John Decker • John Gishnock III • Tony Wyse • Jean Wyse • Cheryl Fuchs • Amelia Mauer Royko • Jim McGoey

3. Our Goal • Create a healthy, vibrant and walkable downtown by expanding and attracting employment, shopping and social activities

4. Objectives • Host a downtown retail start-up fair to connect entrepreneurs with information on maintaining an existing business and opening a new business and acquiring funding.

5. Objectives • Form a steering committee to develop a user-friendly manual for city government and the public that lists a menu of low-cost tools and strategies for revitalizing Evansville’s central business district

6. Objectives • Develop a pilot business for the principle objective of creating a template for new business start-ups

7. Objectives • Create a green business initiative to form the “Allen Creek Collective”, a green business mall in downtown Evansville

8. How we determined our objectives • Brainstorming • Discussions • Sort out what is really an Objective not an action • Is it feasible? • Is it important?

9. Action Items • Criteria • It can be done • Clear deliverable • Most have a short time frame (less then 2 years) • Cost effective • Important to increase the viability of our downtown!

10. Host a downtown retail start-up fair to connect entrepreneurs with info on maintaining an existing business & opening new business & acquiring funding • Establish a location/date • Develop an ad campaign & agenda • Identify & secure paid/unpaid professionals & non-expert volunteers • Collect an inventory of storefronts • Sourcing set-up & equipment • Develop a budget, funding sources and chairperson with coordinating committee

11. Form steering committee & develop a user-friendly manual for city gov’t & the public that lists a menu low-cost of tools & strategies for revitalizing our central business district • Develop mission & goal of manual • Identify candidates for steering committee • Research availability of grants/funding • Advertise & plan a kick-off meeting

12. Form steering committee &develop a user-friendly manual for city gov’t & the public that lists a menu low-cost of tools & strategies for revitalizing our central business district • Define manual program & responsibilities of steering committee • Identify a permanent location/date/time • Research precedents, develop outline for manual • Prepare manual & disseminate

13. Develop a pilot business to create a template for new business start-ups • Develop chair & coordinating committee • Identify available necessary resources • Develop evaluation criteria for successful business • Define roles for committee & business owner • Publicize & search for candidate business • Use criteria to award project • Develop work plan/schedule/etc with owner

14. Develop a pilot business to create a template for new business start-ups • Execute the plan • Prepare report documenting entire process • Develop a uniform ‘one-stop’ resource to include a “How-To” start-up guide • Establish a permanent business start-up program

15. Create a green business initiative to form the “Allen Creek Collective”, a green business mall • Contact potential business members/org’s • Find location/date for meeting • Outline goals to form collective • Apply for “buy local” grant • Develop marketing/economic/business strategies

16. Create a green business initiative to form the “Allen Creek Collective”, a green business mall • Decide to build “green” or convert existing site • Tour vacant properties • Designate communal & retail use of space • Grand opening

17. Questions?

18. Thank You! Downtown Revitalization