Downtown Revitalization Tools

HometownOhio takes the very best revitalization strategies and infuses them with innovative, flexible and cost-effective methods to maximize the effectiveness of local efforts. Together, these methods serve to give downtowns every advantage possible in a highly competitive economic marketplace. These approaches include the following, some of which are the first of their kind anywhere:

* Statewide real estate and opportunity marketing that targets key markets
* Funding partnerships
* Flexible management structures that respond to a community’s uniqueness and allow limited program funding dollars to have maximum impact
* Retail incubation techniques
* Integration of neighborhoods into overall revitalization strategies
* Hometown competitiveness training
* Using the latest in online communications, social networking and e-commerce tools for public relations, marketing, increased economic activity and program operations funding
* Creative and cost-effective tools for packaging attractions and tapping into heritage tourism opportunities
* Branding and image marketing

Specific program services include the following:

Determining How Your Downtown Fits into the 21 Century Economic Marketplace – Using the comprehensive market analysis approach used by the University of Wisconsin Extension’s Center for Community Economic Development, the Downtown and Business District Market Analysis assists a community to explore realistic and achievable economic opportunities for their downtown. This innovative and one-of-a-kind program uses GIS (Geographical Informational Systems) tools and extensive demographic data to review current economic trends, space utilization, trade area characteristics, local and out-of-town customer attitudes, and economic realities by business and property categories. The result is an unparalleled look at your downtown or other traditional business district that can answer the fundamental questions of revitalization. HometownOhio can combine this study with use of our other statewide market-driven preservation and revitalization tools, which together creates an amazing value for your community.

Townology  Downtown Online Experience -Townology is the country’s newest opportunity for existing downtown revitalization organizations and the merchants and communities they serve.  Townology can introduce independent retailers to the possibilities of an online presence for their operation, and it can also provide a source of revenue for downtown revitalization programs.  And –- best of all — there’s minimal cost to those programs — or to merchants — to make it work!

Townology can include three interlocking components, one, two or three which can be selected by a community, and all which can be included on a single site.  These include:

* A community information portal that allows downtown to again serve as a center of civic life

* An interactive social networking experience that brings community groups and individuals together and links them with downtown merchants for positive public relations and sales

* The primary Townology site, which allows your downtown to market its “brand” in way that can generate ongoing income

Planning a Winning Downtown Revitalization Strategy – With a completed assessment, a community needs a roadmap for success.  Working with community leaders, this map will set forth specific objectives, identify tools for realizing those goals, and will set realistic timelines – all based on a comprehensive look at specific community assets and resources.  Recommendations will also issue on needed public and private-sector commitments.

This assessment will include a comprehensive look at all one or more downtown resources, including buildings, institutional and personal resources, and basic market conditions.  Building review includes a visit by a preservation developer with experience in downtown building renovation and leasing.  This assessment is based on field work, interview and information gathering, and will include at least one general meeting with downtown stakeholders.

Downtown Project Assistance and Management – HometownOhio can provide on-site assistance or management for specific revitalization projects, including the following.

* Festival and event planning
* Conference and meeting planning and execution
* Individual and group building rehabilitation projects
* Tenant recruitment
* Marketing and creation of promotional materials
* Design guideline creation, review and administration
* Creation of communication tools
* Organizational development

Downtown Program Coordination and Management – HometownOhio accepts contracts for on-site management of downtown preservation-based revitalization programs, including those using the Main Street approach.  From program start-up, interim short-term management contracts and ongoing involvement, your community can now receive expert assistance at a greatly reduced cost – and without a learning curve!