Council hears 2012 MSVW annual report

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council got an update on the Main Street Van Wert program during a presentation held prior to the regular Council meeting on Monday evening.

“It’s been a very full year,” said Main Street Van Wert Interim Program Manager Adam Ries. “So much has happened … there are so many updates to give.”

Ries noted that the organization has been around, in one form or another, for nearly 10 years, and added that Van Wert has been a Main Street community since 2004.

He also reiterated Main Street Van Wert’s mission statement: “Main Street Van Wert works to serve the community by stimulating economic growth, preserving the rich historic buildings and promoting Downtown Van Wert as a great place to shop, visit, work and live.”

Ries gave his report based on the Main Street program’s four basic pillars: business enhancement, operations, design and marketing/promotions, providing examples of how each is being fulfilled through the local organization’s activities.

As part of his presentation, Ries provided an update on the organization’s 2012 annual report, noting that, while the downtown area has netted just one business (five new businesses versus four lost) over the past 12 months, there has been a gain of 36 jobs over that period, compared to a loss of just 10 jobs in that time, for a net increase of 26 new jobs.

Ries also cited reinvestment in the downtown area, noting that a total of $1.4 million has been invested in downtown Van Wert, including $28,350 in façade improvements and $1,387,682 in building rehabs.

The interim program manager said that filling vacant buildings was a priority, with Main Street Van Wert acting somewhat in the capacity of a facilitator for absentee owners to get vacant buildings sold, providing tours and analyzing vacant buildings to determine how much a business owner would need to invest in them.

“Members from our board and other volunteers decided if the owner isn’t going to work with a realtor then we have to play that role in trying to promote their building, either for rent or for sale,” Ries stated, noting that includes photographing buildings inside and out, sketching out the layout of all floors and determining how much work it would take for a business to move into the buildings.

Noting that vacant buildings “are not only an eyesore, they stall development and business opportunity,” Ries added, “A vibrant downtown — or the lack of one — affects the community’s ability to attract and retain the residents, businesses and institutions, jobs, and investments that enable a place to thrive.”

The interim program manager said he feels the work on vacant buildings has already provided benefits to downtown building owners and businesses wanting to locate downtown. Because of his own design training, Ries has also been able to provide architectural renderings for downtown buildings, another service that enhances the sale and rehab of downtown buildings.

Ries also talked about the “cash mob” events implemented in April of this year. Calling cash mobs a “one-time shopping event,” he noted that the events are “fun and mysterious” and provide a trickle-down effect for local businesses, as well as a benefit to cash mob members, who are able to better familiarize themselves with businesses and what they sell.

The interim program manager also discussed the various partnership activities of Main Street Van Wert and its increasing use of fundraisers and other promotions to provide sustainability for the organization.

Ries also provided an update on the events hosted by Main Street Van Wert, including its main event — ArtRageous on Main — which he said had been declining until an effort was made this past year to enhance the event with new activities and the recruitment of additional artists.

He also talked about the new Market on Main downtown market and the Harvest Moon Festival coming this weekend in the downtown area.

In addition to Ries, several Main Street Van Wert board members attended the presentation, with current Board President Denise Frey providing a compliment to Ries on the job he has doing as interim program manager. “A lot of recognition has been brought to the Van Wert downtown, thanks to Adam,” she said.