Downtown Knowledge

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 about festivals, fundraisers, or other…

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 was very successful…

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 in a board…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Nominating Committee and your volunteer recruitment [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]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,…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Your first step to a new website [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]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…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Getting your properties noticed [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]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…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Property Pro Forma – The Economics of Downtown Property Development [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Being new on Main Street, there was a lot to learn for me. Having worked for the Boy Scouts for the previous eight years, I had honed my skills in event management, budgeting, communications and volunteer recruitment. However, there is a lot more…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Planning Your Marketing [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]When you think about your organization’s marketing, how much planning goes into it? Do you do it with purpose, or is it something that you do when you have time? I know….time! But in reality, most downtowns are very good at event marketing, but often lack a message or strategy…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Tools to manage your Farmers Market [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Farmers Markets have become a staple of Main Streets throughout the country. It’s a wonderful event that brings people from all over the area into the downtown, while at the same time highlighting local foods and growers. When I came to Main Street our vendor manual was…

One of the most important things I learned when I worked for the Boy Scouts was retention. Every Scout that I recruited was one more I didn’t need to recruit to attain my year-end goals. Every dollar I saved was one I didn’t need to raise to balance the budget. But truth be told, a…