PRODUCTIVE VOLUNTEERISM IN MAIN STREET

March 2014 Main Street Matters

One of the first things both the national and statewide coordinating programs recommend to communities applying for Main Street designation is that they generate broad-based local interest and support for the Main Street effort. To be successful, a balance of public and private participants is needed right from the start, including business/property owners, local government, residents, civic associations, schools and other institutions, banks, utilities, media, and other groups, and individuals representing a broad and varied cross-section of the community. Over time, maintaining and growing a local program depends on the continuation of that support. It is one of the most basic—yet no doubt one of the hardest—things that staff and other stakeholders have to do (which you already know!).  

This month’s Spotlight article showcases several interesting and noteworthy examples of effective volunteer-based activities instead of focusing on a single specific Main Street community. Occasionally spotlighting multiple examples of success on certain topics like volunteer management in a single issue of Main Street Matters will allow multiple Main Street programs to be part of the Spotlight. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to see covered, let us know. Next month, the traditional Spotlight will be on Amarillo, a successful urban Main Street program since 2002.

Beaumont

Information contributed by Carolyn Howard, Former Beaumont Main Street Director

One component of the Beaumont Main Street Program (BMSP) is a group of young professionals called Young Creatives for Downtown Revitalization (YCFDR). This volunteer group believes that successful growth of the downtown area is connected to developing downtown residential space. As of January 2014, approximately 150 people lived in downtown Beaumont, but the group and the BMSP feel that we need more downtown residents, especially in market-rate rentable loft space. Several buildings in downtown Beaumont are perfectly suited for loft living. Plus, the Main Street district is a National Register Commercial Historic District.

During 2013, YCFDR organized and hosted a survey focusing on the need for residential development. The group organized a survey with distribution through Survey Monkey, social media, and email marketing. As a follow-up to the initial survey, to encourage additional survey responses, and to keep awareness high, YCFDR hosted loft tours, themed “Livin’ It Up Downtown.” As of late fall 2013, more than 400 people had indicated their perceptions and desires pertaining to downtown living in Beaumont.

More than 91 percent of the respondents answered positively to the statement “I am interested in living in a historic building.”  When asked about tall ceilings, wood floors, light, or architectural features, more than 80 percent in each category stated that these attracted them to historic buildings as residential space (Chart A). Almost 70 percent loved the idea of urban living, while 63 percent were attracted to being near the culture and life of the city (Chart B). Other questions asked in the survey were whether true loft space (few walls) was desirable; what rents would be acceptable to the market; desired number of bedrooms and unit sizes; and amenities needed. Demographic questions, to determine how marketing might proceed, included questions of gender (56 percent female), and marital status (67 percent single), age (62 percent under age 34), income, and occupation. The survey and activity generated by YCFDR helped the BMSP compile a list of 160 people who have specifically expressed interest in living in downtown Beaumont and will help direct future program activities during 2014 and beyond.

Left: Chart A                                                                                                         Right: Chart B

Eagle Pass

Written by Joe Cruz, Former Eagle Pass Main Street Manager

Eagle Pass “Back in the Day” started out as a Facebook page in 2010 by a local history buff, Jeff Taylor Sr., who wanted to create awareness of our town’s history by using one of today’s best networking tools—Facebook. I enjoyed watching all the vintage pictures that Jeff was posting of Eagle Pass. (www.facebook.com/pages/Eagle-Pass-Texas-Back-in-the-Day/122008607891278). In 2012, I contacted him to talk about an idea I had to bring his Facebook page to life by creating an event to promote our town’s history and heritage. In May 2013, we had our first “Eagle Pass, Texas—Back in the Day” event. Angelica Hesles and her family helped us by hosting the event at her well-known downtown store Hesles Sporting Goods (Figure 1). Mrs. Hesles’ son Richard and his wife Vanessa provided refreshments from their downtown restaurant Mia’s. For the event we had a variety of vintage pictures of our downtown that we picked from the “Back in the Day” Facebook page. The event was scheduled to run from May 13–18, but it became so popular that we left the pictures up for an extra week. 

After this event, Jeff and his wife Joyce became volunteers for the Eagle Pass Main Street Program (EPMS) and have since participated in many ventures downtown. Last fall, Jeff and I wanted to have a “Back in the Day” event to highlight our local war veterans. Joaquin Davila, the owner of the Old Downtown Drug Store, offered his building to us. Jeff, Doris Miller, our board chairperson, and a few local veterans helped with the cleanup and set up of the building. On November 20, 2013, we had our second “Eagle Pass, Texas—Back in the Day” titled “Veterans of Maverick County”. We had many pictures of our local WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans. We borrowed many items from our veterans and their families. Hesles Sporting Goods and Maverick Sporting Goods helped us with some items since they sell army and military gear. 

In January 2014, Jeff Taylor Sr. was nominated for the Citizen of the Year Award for his dedication to EPMS and for his historic preservation efforts. Although he did not win the award, it is still an honor to be named for such an award.

We’ve had much success with this event thanks to all the individuals who volunteered their time to put such an event together. We are currently planning a third “Eagle Pass, Texas—Back in the Day” event. This time we will be having it at the Fort Duncan Museum. (Fort Duncan was established in 1849: www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbf17). 

Elgin

Contributed by Amy Miller, Former Elgin Main Street Manager

Elgin works with Elgin High School to secure young volunteers for the Elgin Main Street Program (EMSP). A marketing class at Elgin High School and a group called the REAL club both seek hands-on, relevant projects that can transfer to work experience. In 2013 the REAL club coordinated the Road Hog Car Show that is part of the annual Hogeye Festival. Proceeds from the show were shared between the club and EMSP. The students and their advisor, high school teacher Bob Haisler, handled all of the logistic, marketing, planning, and day-of efforts related to the show. It was a great success and had almost 100 cars!  The marketing classes can work on specific projects like budgeting printing for a project, or designing flyers. A new project in fall of 2013 was to have groups of students create a short graphic- based story of the history of buildings downtown that could be viewed online via a QR Code. Bob brought the students downtown for a field trip, and I provided an overview of the EMSP, and the heritage walking tour. Thanks to a generous downtown property owner, Ed Rivers, the students also toured two buildings under renovation. Seeing the restoration in action really kept their attention. Two students from the REAL club attended the EMSP retreat in February (Figure 2). Students attend city council meetings, and in March will be part of the planning process for our Union Pacific property, which is slated to become a plaza community destination for downtown Elgin. In addition, Elgin has a new campus for Austin Community College, and one ACC student volunteers in our office around her class schedule. She started with the program in high school. The department worked with Bob to match a part- time intern for spring break and hopes to have a summer intern to help with Main Street and park programs. 

Denison

Contributed by Donna Dow, Denison Main Street Manager
Main Street community since 1989

The Crew began with a conversation with a volunteer interested in seeing downtown Denison thrive. (He has since passed away, but the Crew lives on). It began as a think tank for two with a third party (the future Crew Chief) joining in. The founder wouldn’t take no for an answer and wanted to put everything on the fast track. So to address our needs, we formed—the Crew. The timing was perfect as we were seeing an influx of new businesses.

The Crew was created as a volunteer organization based in Denison designed to help out our local businesses. Wearing bright matching shirts, the Crew (nearly 20 strong) walks the streets and alleys of downtown daily to pick up trash and look for items that need to be addressed or repaired (Figure 3). They are an ambassadors group that has been well received. The group members don’t want credit; they just want to see a good business climate in downtown Denison. They were a large part of the reason we won the Texas Downtown Association Marketing award for the Operation Increase Occupancy program. The Crew was also the winner of the 2013 Volunteer of the Year award in Denison. Note: Donna will be presenting a session on the Operation Increase Occupancy program at the National Main Street Conference in Detroit, MI in May.

For some time, I had been looking for a way to nurture new businesses. Nothing seemed to fit. We tried hosting a Chat Over Coffee, monthly socials, inviting them to our committee meetings, and other things. It wasn’t the original mission of the Crew, but it turned out to be an awesome side benefit. As the Crew members performed their daily walks, they came in contact with new business owners. Normally, they would meet the new business owners as they were moving in. Conversation, encouragement, and a helping hand were offered. This turned out to be the nurturing boost for new businesses that had been hoped for through other means.