Todd Fahning and Reinhard Mueller Sparta WI Outlying stores more efficient and capable of handling traffic The need to retool our downtowns to offer creative offerings The public responsibility to maintain downtown infrastructure ID: 644818
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Our Downtown Empty Storefronts
Todd Fahning and Reinhard Mueller
Sparta, WISlide3
Outlying stores more efficient and capable of handling trafficThe need to re-tool our downtowns to offer creative offeringsThe public responsibility to maintain downtown infrastructure
If left to itself, pure capitalism would allow unused space to crumble
The Rural ChallengeSlide4
The local municipality must be a partner in the solution. Partnership is more effective than regulationThe downtown merchants must take ownership over their downtown. Sparta has organized a Downtown Cooperative that regularly meets to educate and organize events. This helps support the notion that people want to do the right thing
Sparta’s ResponseSlide5
Citizens must be interested in their own town before expecting others to be interestedThere must be life downtown. Merchants depend upon activity to drive their own business
There must be a reason to go downtown
Key ConceptsSlide6
The Facade loan programIts originsHow it was improvedHow it is utilized
How it is managed
Demonstrated and visible partnership coming from the City of Sparta
The City of SpartaSlide7
Creating activity Music
Farmers Market
Encouraging new business
Creating a positive trend
Regular meetings
Eliminating barriers
The Downtown CooperativeSlide8
Active participation and execution of the façade loan programBetter hope for the futurePositive talking points
Kriskindlmarkt
in early December
Support from City
Support from Chamber
Early TrendsSlide9
No silver bulletNo escaping hard workYou will receive ten-fold of what you invest, you just won’t know when or in what form
Let your downtown be a reflection of your community……because it is
Infect many, multiply results
Fewer rules, more execution
Parting Thoughts