Talking Points & Answers For MSS Donor Visits

• What is Main Street Skowhegan?

o Main Street Skowhegan was designated in the fall of 2005, as one of eight Main Street Maine communities. (The other communities include: Waterville, Gardiner, Bath, Van Buren, Eastport, Saco, and Biddeford).  The philosophy of the program seeks to improve and maintain the downtown area as the heart of Skowhegan.
o As a nonprofit organization it is dependent on the generous donations and volunteerism from the business community, municipality, its citizens and fundraising events. Affiliation with the National Main Street Program provides Main Street Skowhegan with a cumulative and incremental strategic approach, which focuses on 4 vital areas of downtown revitalization: organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring. In order to achieve long-term sustainability, all four areas must be balanced. This program is community driven and comprehensive and has a proven track record of success across the country.
o A healthy, economically viable and attractive downtown is important to the overall health and vitality of Skowhegan.
o This program must have the public and private sectors of the community involved and committed for the local Main Street program to succeed.
o It is local people, caring and working for the benefit of the community as a whole to create a better place to live, work and play and to pass on to the following generations
o An organization that has produced tangible results.

• What cause does MSS serve:

o Facilitating downtown Revitalization
o Creating community connections
o Stimulating economic development – attracting new business; helping current businesses prosper
o Funding infrastructure support
o Beautification

A healthy downtown will mean more people STAY in Skowhegan

• Whose interests are served by MSS:

o Business community
o Local Government
o Local Citizens
o Property Owners
o Professionals
o Corporations
o Financial Institutions

• What are the benefits of the Main Street Program? (At the end are the specific benefits to each industry/sector if you feel them necessary to target to who is being solicited?)

o Enhances community pride and quality of life
o Preserves and creates jobs
o Enhances industrial, commercial and professional development
o Increases collaboration between public and private sectors in order to attain common goals
o Bolsters property values throughout the community
o Grows existing businesses, attracts new businesses and reinforces other economic development activities
o Protects and utilizes historic assets in downtown
o Increases the tax base by developing vacant and underutilized buildings to higher and better uses

• What is the reason you have lost another ED and what is the plan to move forward?

o It is difficult finding employees that understand the mechanics and working of a nonprofit organization.
o This job is very demanding with many needed skills and flexibility to be successful.
o The Board is creating a short interim plan with the Board members contributing time to do the daily tasks and keep the organization in tact.
o The Board is exploring the option of hiring a former Main Street Director from another community that is currently a consultant to fill in while an ED search is conducted.
o A hiring committee will be formed to include not only MSS Board members but representatives from the downtown and the Town of Skowhegan.
o This committee will conduct a search in accordance with policies and procedure with assistance as needed from the Maine Downtown Center.
o The goal is to have an ED hired no later than November 2009.

• What is the status of the Main Street Designation? (Not sure how detailed you want to be here – I would suggest that all those visiting have a copy of the letter with them so they may address any specific questions?-thoughts?)

o A letter was received from Maine Downtown Center granting MSS to keep our designation.
o The Board was given additional items to address which will need to be reported to MDC in September to ensure that we are making progressing and moving the program forward.
„X Items include: ED Succession Plan, Fundraising, Visiting another MS community, budget and committee work plans.

• Who are current Board Members?

o Rosie Bradley –President - Economic / Community Development Director
o Audrey Lovering – Vice President
o Laurie Denis – Secretary – Redington Fairview General Hospital
o Cherylene Seavey –Treasurer- Franklin Savings Bank
o Karen Hart – Skowhegan Savings Bank
o Becky Richardson – Downtown Retail Business
o Amber Lambke – Start up business owner, Kneading Conference Chair; Chair of Promotions Committee
o Chris Arsenault – New Balance
o John Doucette – Skowhegan Town Manager
o Steve Govoni – Downtown property owner, Kennebec Realty, Wentworth Partners & Assoc.
o Julie Washburn – Tax Specialist & Skowhegan Elks
o The Board is currently recruiting new Board Members and is hopeful more downtown businesses will join the Board. 

• What are you doing with my money?

o The funding model of MSS includes participation from the municipality, the businesses and through donations and fundraising efforts.
o These monies are used to fund the overhead costs of the organization (i.e. rent, utilities, salaries, insurances etc.)
o These monies are also used to promote and market Skowhegan.
o These monies are also used assist with the many events that happen throughout the year (i.e. Holiday Stroll, Skowpendous, Block Party, Maple Week, Sports Swap)
o These monies assist with beautification efforts of the downtown.
o These monies assist with programs and educational opportunities for downtown businesses.

• What have you accomplished? (In the three years that MSS received designation the following significant accomplishments have been made)

o Over $1 Million in grants were received in new public and private downtown investment
o Over 22,500 (with 7,000 hours averaged annually) volunteer hours have been logged (This is invaluable and without it the organization would not survive – It would be impossible to purchase those hours with funding)
o 16 net new jobs have been created in downtown businesses.
o 12 downtown building rehabilitation projects (Blueberry Cupboard, Hill Top, Lynette’s, Smith Whittier building, Empire Grill, Carpenters, Dance Studio to name a few)
o 7 public improvement projects (sidewalk stamping, benches & tables, island, new streetlights, water & sewer upgrades, crosswalk signals)
o 2 new construction projects (Renaissance building)
o 11 new businesses (Peace Tree, Wish, Somerset Tile, Bankery, Northern Leathers, Taxi Stand etc.)
o A return on investment equal to $8.40 for every $1.00 invested. This is an 840% ROI.
o Formed partnerships and create connectivity with the following:
„X Skowhegan Farmers Market which hosts over 20 vendors weekly along with local musicians. This market is so successful it has become a statewide model for other communities.  A 300% increase in revenue/participation. 
„X RiverFest which is focusing on the Run of the River Project
„X The Kneading Conference which draws people from around the country (and Canada and France) for two days of hands-on immersion in traditional and cutting edge grain cultivation, artisan bread baking, and wood fired oven construction and management situated for the third year in Skowhegan.
o Returned community pride
o Made community safer with the new street lights and sidewalks
o First town in the state to receive State & Federal funding for a public elevator with the vision of the Renaissance as a connector for second floor businesses.
 

Local Residents (can benefit by):

Better shopping
Closer shopping
Less driving
More social and cultural activities
Better sense of hometown pride, community and identity
Historical awareness
Stable or improved home values
A healthy local economy means property tax will not be raised
More attractive community
More activities for kids

Retail Business Owners (can benefit by):

Increased sales
An improved image
Increased value of business
Educational opportunities for the merchant
Increased traffic; more people coming into the business district
District marketing
Better business mix / business recruitment
Community pride
A way to have needs and issues addressed
Improvement in the quality of business life

Professionals (can benefit by):

Increased traffic; opportunity for combining business and shopping District marketing; the Center is marketed as a unit

Better business mix/business recruitment

Increased community pride

A way or forum for having town center needs and issues addressed

Improvement in the quality of business life

Reductions in vandalism or other crime

Assistance with tax credits for professionals who own their buildings

Assistance with design issues

Better communication with other property owners

Improved town center image

New and/or better uses for existing buildings for professionals who own their buildings

City Government (can benefit by):

Increased income to City through additional tax revenues
Increased number of local jobs
Improved local economy
Positive perception outside the community of the town center
Improved relations between City and community at large
Business recruitment
Impetus for public improvements

Property Owners (can benefit by):

Increased rates of occupancy
Rents can be stabilized or increased (helps property values)
Reductions in vandalism or other crime
Assistance with tax credits
Assistance with design issues
Better communication with other property owners
Improved town center image
New and/or better uses for existing buildings
Upper floors filled
New retail uses

Large Corporations (can benefit by):

Increased economic and residential growth helps to spread tax burden over larger base 
Strong home values help property tax rates stay stable
Positive perception of community is a draw for industry
Good community image helps corporations’ local image
An attractive community helps attract/keep employees
Employees who live nearby miss fewer work days due to weather

Financial Institutions (can benefit by):

Increased business deposits
Increased potential for business loans and other bank services
An improved image and good will
Success of the community is crucial to banks’ success