Downtown Delavan has new focus!?
From my point of view, and as the old saw goes, nothing comes from nothing and we've been getting that in downtown for a number of years. As the City Council worked so hard to develop the commercial retail out at the Crossings 20+ years ago, (Walmart, Kohl's, and Lowes - among others, are located there), the historic downtown languished but for a few stalwart business owners. This week, under the new energized direction of the new City administrator, Denise Pieroni, a series of 'strategic planning' town hall meetings were held in downtown to enable a forward-thinking plan to be developed to bring new business to downtown, and re-vitalize our community. Again. All I can say, as a former member of the Revitalize the Downtown Task Force is - the proof is in the pudding. So much talk about the subject has happened in the past, and if the City Council does not continue to listen, support and enact upon citizen recommendations, it will again all be for naught. It will be critical to keep this topic front and center and on the agenda, and to call for citizens to participate actively in volunteering their time for cleanup, for event management, and for supporting the downtown business district by "Shopping Local". If this does not happen, we will again be left with a lot of talk, and no concrete results.
Remember:
If half the employed population spent $50 each month in 3 locally owned independent stores, it would generate $42.6 billion in revenue.
Spend $100 at an independent business and return $68 to your locally economy.
Spend $100 at the national chain and only return $44 to your locally economy.
Spend $100 online, 0 dollars are returned (that's right folks, zip - nada - nothing!).
http://www.the350project.net/home.html
