Downtown Development Specialist 2017 Year in Review

Downtown Development Specialist 2017 Year in Review

Downtown Development Specialist 3 Year Plan as Proposed (Autumn 2016): Year 1: Imagine Change (Organizationally Driven) Inspiring the local community and potential businesses by seeing all the wonderful things that are possible within an easy, walkable downtown. Year 2: Be the Change (Community Collaboration) Collaborating with community organizations and individuals to participate in CRG and community driven programming, increasing stakeholder buy-in, and ensure a sustainable change downtown. Year 3: Live the Change (Community Driven) Goal to provide minor support to community and focus on business driven programming. The efforts in Years 1 & 2 by CRG will create a viable base to encourage both new businesses and residents who will have a stake in the direction of downtown. Year 3 should be spent on deepening roots and shoring up infrastructure that will ensure continued growth and maturity to the downtown area.

Downtown Development Specialist Year 1: Imagine Change A Process of Education: What does revitalization look like? How long does it take? What are the priorities and plan for this path? Who is in the local community? What is the lay of the land? What are the most immediate needs to lay the groundwork for change?

Year 1: Imagine Change What does the revitalization look like? How long does it take?

Year 1: Imagine Change What does the path look like? Placemaking Placemaking is a way of working with the community to re-imagine & reinvent public spaces so they once again become the central focal point of public life strengthening the connection between people and the places they share. It s the role of placemakers to encourage everyone to think about what s special in their communities and encourage them to act as advocates. Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) Temporary, relatively inexpensive alterations to public space Encourages community buy-in Generates the interest of potential investors Fosters a community s sense of pride in, and ownership of, their public spaces

Year 1: Imagine Change Who is in the local community? Established stakeholders such as BID, City, Chamber, GEDC, Co-op, Glove, etc. Finding out who the other key stakeholders within the community are has actually been harder than expected. There are a lot of small, but vital, groups and individuals flying under the radar. Also need to figure out how to reach individuals who live in Gloversville but are not active in the community. Gaining their trust and participation is the greatest step towards lasting change.

Year 1: Imagine Change What is the lay of the land? Perception Systemic lack of communication between and among organizations, businesses, and residents General sense of no community as relayed by business owners Sense that the best is behind us and not much happens in Gloversville All this culminates in a general sense of malaise and despair Reality Up until this point no-one has been assigned the role of central hub for information across organizations and institutions downtown. It takes time, effort, and consistency to rebuild networks of communication.

Year 1: Imagine Change What are the most immediate needs to lay the groundwork for change? Better communication to and amongst stakeholders downtown Full calendar of downtown events to draw people to the business district in a way they have not seen in years Open-door policy for ideas and opinions Assisting organizations, individuals, and businesses to create a solid infrastructure for growth and change Relaying the reality that one person can have a lasting, positive impact on the future of downtown

JAN FEB MAR Getting settled, 20+ meetings with stakeholders (individuals, city officials and community groups). Created framework for 2017 work plan and events calendar.

JAN FEB MAR Continued introduction to City with 28 meetings. Began planning Spring Festival (May) and Twilight Market (July-Sept) Provided assistance to Southern Adk Wine & Food Festival committee.

JAN FEB MAR Assisted BID with Chili Cook-off (3/25), planning committee for Southern ADK Wine & Food Festival and Micro-Park. Sent out call for Twilight Market committee members; began sponsorship push for Twilight Market.

APR MAY JUN Attended multiple workshops and webinars about state grants programs. Continued to plan 2017 events. Priority Project: Began work on DRI application.

APR MAY JUN Organized and executed Spring Festival (5/6). JUN Attended placemaking training at Project for Public Spaces, NYC with cohort of 18 individuals representing communities across the globe. Continued planning 2017 events. Priority Project: 2017 DRI application.

APR MAY JUN Provided promotional assistance for Micro-Park unveiling. Assisted in the execution of Southern ADK Wine & Food Festival (6/10). Priority Project: Completed and submitted 2017 DRI application. Assisted in community charrette hosted by LaBella Associates. First Grassroots Gloversville meeting.

JUL AUG SEP First Twilight Market (7/14) themed Summer Splash 450+ people attend. Joined planning committee for Chamber Music at the Chamber (BID). Began to draft 2018-2019 work plan. Began work on Bacon Jam.

JUL AUG SEP Second Twilight Market (8/11) themed Glove City Celebration 950+ people attend. Coordinated and assisted with two privatelydonated public art pieces (Before I Die wall and community benches). Continue to work on Bacon Jam. Hosted tour of downtown for Andrew Manshel; case study later published on placemaster.com website.

JUL AUG SEP Third Twilight Market (9/8) themed Fresh Start 800+ people attended. Began work on Saratoga Arts Council Grant for 2018 Artist in Residence Program. Held first Downtown Women s Discussion Group. Created and mailed first Downtown Business Newsletter. Final push for Bacon Jam planning.

OCT NOV DEC Bacon Jam (10/7) held with 3,500 people in attendance. Submitted Saratoga Arts grant for 2018 Artist in Residence Program. Hosted Mark Fenton (10/5), nationally recognized Complete Streets expert and Andrew Manshel (10/27) for workshops discussing placemaking & downtown revitalization. Hosted first Business Owners Roundtable (10/25). Began planning Placemaking 101 conference (April 2018).

OCT NOV DEC Began planning 2018 events calendar including all events hosted in 2017 with addition of Placemaking 101 conference (4/18-19), and Glove City Arts Festival (8/10-12). Began to work on 2018 grants strategy. Continued to work on monthly Downtown Business Newsletter, Grassroots Gloversville, and other community outreach projects. Hosted BID Marketing Committee meeting.

Began main planning of Placemaking 101 conference (4/18-19). Held meetings to finalize 2018 events calendar dates. Continued outreach and communication efforts with Downtown Business Newsletter and second Women s Downtown Discussion Group. OCT NOV DEC

Downtown Development Specialist Year 2: Be the Change (Community Collaboration) Year 1: Imagine Change (Organizationally Driven) Inspiring the local community and potential businesses by seeing all the wonderful things that are possible within an easy, walkable downtown. Year 2: Be the Change (Community Collaboration) Collaborating with community organizations and individuals to participate in CRG and community driven programming, increasing stakeholder buy-in, and ensure a sustainable change downtown. Year 3: Live the Change (Community Driven) Goal to provide minor support to community and focus on business driven programming. The efforts in Years 1 & 2 by CRG will create a viable base to encourage both new businesses and residents who will have a stake in the direction of downtown. Year 3 should be spent on deepening roots and shoring up infrastructure that will ensure continued growth and maturity to the downtown area.

Downtown Development Specialist Year 2: Be the Change Main Areas of Focus: Outreach & communication with downtown businesses Marketing of downtown to creative economy Continuation of downtown events Increase safety & walkability of downtown Grant funding for projects Wayfinding

Year 2: Be the Change Outreach & communication with downtown businesses Newsletters Monthly and quarterly information sharing through mailers and enews Discussion Groups Increase inter-organizational connections and social fabric through dialogue and personal relationships Placemaking Conference [April 18 & 19] Establish baseline of understanding with community members, City officials, and economic development professionals across the state Organizational mentorship with key institutions Help key institutions be ready to apply for and manage major grant awards

Year 2: Be the Change Marketing of downtown to creative economy Artist in Residence Program (ARP) Establish model of artistic outreach that can be a promotional tool and create artistic archive of downtown revitalization Postcard Campaign Monthly postcards with supporting website to expand reach and increase interest in downtown Gloversville with the creative class Glove City Arts Festival [Aug 10 to 12] Draw artists and guests from within and outside of the immediate area to downtown Showcase downtown in an unique and effective way

Year 2: Be the Change Downtown Events Build Sponsorship Support Increase support of events by downtown businesses through financial sponsorships and volunteerism at events Build Event Attendance Increase draw to events, capitalizing on summer tourists and people from outside of the immediate area Increase Volunteer Participation Have consistent pool of volunteers to assist in planning and execution of events

Year 2: Be the Change Increase safety & walkability of downtown Pedestrian Signs & Bump-outs Work with City and downtown organizations to create physical changes downtown, increasing safety Start Ambassador Program Program to employ transitional population as downtown ambassadors providing foot patrol and street maintenance Information Campaign re: Pedestrian Safety Work with City to create pedestrian safety campaign, increasing walkability of downtown

Year 2: Be the Change Grant funding Increase Grant Funding for Projects (see previous slides) Grant research is needed to find funds that can assist in program areas Create Grant Strategy & Closely Follow in 2018 Identify priority projects, buildings, etc., and work with stakeholders to prepare competitive grant applications

Year 2: Be the Change Wayfinding Wayfinding Signs to Downtown from the Arterial Needed to draw car traffic to downtown business district Wayfinding Signs for Pedestrians Downtown Needed to draw foot traffic through downtown business area

2017 Budget Review YTD Jan-Nov 2017