Business and economic manager Belinda Wick-Graham recently provided an update of downtown activities and information on the Rural Downtown Revitalization Summit.
Wick-Graham acted as the spokesman for what was happening with the Minto main street projects.
In September 2009, Minto was successful in obtaining over $400,000 over three years for downtown revitalization. As seen in recent all candidates’ meetings for the coming election, Wick-Graham said the downtowns continue to be an issue people are interested in.
“It’s something people feel we should be paying attention to,” she said. She explained the streetscape plan implementation started in 2009 and will continue on into 2011.
She also cited façade guidelines and demonstrations, work on the heritage park, marketing and investment, shop local programs, BIA training and various upgrades.
“Together, we’ve been able to leverage an additional $7,100 from the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation to create an Invest in Minto website, improvement package and new video,” she said.
The website is mintoed.com which was the town’s original economic development website and has since been revamped, she explained.
The site can be used to find specific information about each of the downtown areas or on the town’s industrial parks.
The attraction packages, provide all the information needed when looking to relocate here, she said.
The video will be launched at the Rural Downtown Revitalization Summit. Local downtown revitalization committee members will act as downtown ambassadors.
“Who better to promote our community than the businesses themselves.”
She said a number of surveys were sent to businesses in the downtowns as well as the rural routes, to find out what people are looking for in terms of what businesses they want to see in the downtowns.
“With that information, we are doing a recruitment tour. We’ve teamed up in pairs and are going around to surrounding communities within an hour’s drive to look for businesses that are expanding.”
Wick-Graham then stressed, “We’re not looking to steal a business from any other community. We’re just out there looking for people who are looking to expand and doing our sales pitch as to why they should expand in Minto.”
She said there is also going to be a business plan competition in the new year with some incentives to make people really want to do business in Minto – such as free advertising, free rent for three months, and a Minto Chamber of Commerce membership for a year.
In the spring, there is going to be an open house to open up vacant buildings and have property owners or representatives show off the buildings and answer questions.
As well, Wick-Graham and other business ambassadors would be on hand that day to answer questions on why they should locate in Minto.
She said the program is all about partnerships, and the Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Minto over the past five years have developed a great partnership, and, “Together we were able to leverage another $20,000 from the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation which allowed the hiring of a promotion coordinator.”
She commented on the Minto Chamber bucks promotion.
“We’ve sold over $60,000 in Chamber bucks since February, and there is another $30,000 being printed for the Christmas campaign.”
The concept is if one purchases $100 in Chamber bucks, the person pays only $90.
In terms of marketing and promotion, Wick-Graham said there are team-ups with the chamber for summer and Christmas shopping sprees.
As well there are various downtown Christmas promotions in conjunction with local Christmas parades.
“In Clifford we have completed our work and done two blocks from Geddes to John Streets. It includes new benches, garbage cans, a bike rack and interlocking brick, trees and planters.” She said the only thing still being worked on is a piece of public art.
In Harriston, the cenotaph park was the highlight project, Wick-Graham said. “We have heard nothing but positive comments about it.”
Work also included interlocking brick and trees on Arthur Street.
In Palmerston, work has happened on the main street, including the creation of murals on the L&M building.
She added there are new garbage cans and benches, and there will be additional work including interlocking brick and lighting.
Wick-Graham said the murals have attracted a lot of interest and discussion in the community. The murals were based on Palmerston photos.
Also in the works are the development of community-specific welcome packages.
In Palmerston, there is also investigation of the idea of a Festival in the Park, developing a farmers’ market, and addressing the issue of vacant buildings and absentee property owners.
“Things are just cruising along,” Wick-Graham concluded.
“We are out there actively looking for new businesses. It will be interesting to hear what people have to say when they discover what is going on, because there is a lot.”
