Travis' Tips for getting the most out of your next conference I was at a conference recently and got to thinking about how to get the most out of the conference. I had presented early on, so I had time to watch the attendees and really think about how to maximize your time. Like everything,… Read More →
Alabama LAB Recap Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Main Street Alabama LAB in Decatur, Alabama. This is their annual state-wide Main Street conference, and was a great opportunity to see some familiar friends and faces, and meet some great Main Streeters. I’ve been to several conferences and I always try to… Read More →
Sponsorship Packet Template Whether you are in a large district or a small one, having enough funds to do everything you want always seems to be a challenge. Very few districts are left wondering what to do with all their excess funds at the end of the year. Most of us are stretching those dollars… Read More →
Property Inventory Form In the past we have shared tools to help you get your downtown properties noticed and how to evaluate them using our property pro forma. This time we wanted to share a tool with you that can help you get your property and business database started (or updated). Our District Inventory form… Read More →
Go for the Gold Promotion We’ve shared a lot of tools with you over the past year, and one thing we haven’t shared is a successful event. We wanted to change that. We know events are a big part of downtown, and having a successful one can make or break your organization. While we talked… Read More →
District Diplomats Program Having volunteers is a necessary part of downtown revitalization. Even if you are a staff-led program (which most of us aren’t), you need volunteers for festivals and other projects throughout the year. Having enough volunteers can be a challenge - having the right volunteers can be a difference maker. A program that… Read More →
Maestro Board Matrix Having a strong board is a key for most downtown organizations. Whether you are staff-driven or volunteer driven you need to have a supportive board who will help move your organization in a positive direction. In the past we’ve shared with you tools to help your Nominating Committee, what to look for… Read More →
The Nominating Committee and your volunteer recruitment In working with downtowns and Main Streets across the country, I have found that one area that is frequently talked about is volunteer recruitment. Some programs have a wonderful recruitment process, most however are lacking a formal recruitment strategy. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization, but recruiting… Read More →
Your first step to a new website Many of you know that our product (Maestro) is built by our marketing firm, Rokusek. You may not know much about Rokusek, and that’s okay...if you’re passionate about downtowns then we’ll get along just fine! I mention Rokusek because we have worked with hundreds of companies across the… Read More →
Getting your properties noticed When it comes to properties downtown, there were always things to learn for me. One of them is another tool, our Property Pro Forma, which really helped me understand the economics of property development. But understanding everything there is to do with property development and maintenance (which I can assure you… Read More →