MONROE - Local leaders, downtown directors and local economic development professionals have an opportunity to play a proactive role in supporting businesses in a slow economy. Independent downtown businesses face a number of challenges, some unique to their location.
How can community and economic development leaders assist the business community to revitalize their downtown? How will downtown weather the current economy? How can you enhance your downtown's image? How can technology be used to promote downtown? Are there ways to make downtown green and sustainable? How do you work with "big box" retailers?
These questions and many more will be answered during a ten-month webinar conference series held from noon until 1:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month throughout 2009. The webinar for southwest Wisconsin will be held in the upstairs conference room at Wisconsin Community Bank, 1717 10th Street (just off the Square) in Monroe. The Revitalizing Wisconsin's Downtown Series is offered via live, interactive Web, allowing participants to gather at a regional site and interact with presenters and other participants around the state.
The series is presented by the UW Extension's Local Government Center in cooperation with the Wisconsin Downtown Action Council and the Wisconsin Main Street Program. The southwest Wisconsin regional site is sponsored by Green County UW Extension, Monroe Main Street Program and Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
The first session, noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, is an overview of the 4-point Main Street Program. This program teaches communities development strategies such as marketing, business recruitment and retention, real estate development, market analysis, and public improvements while advocating the restoration of the historic character of downtown. Participants will learn about a variety of projects from successful Main Street programs.
Lunch will be provided, so participants must pre-register by calling Cara Carper at (608) 328-9441. The cost for each session is $12 or register for all 10 sessions for $100. Make checks payable to Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
Future programs in the series include: Downtowns and the Current Economy (Feb. 19); Creating an Entrepreneurial Climate Downtown (March 19); Downtown Image and Branding (April 16); Business Recruitment (May 21): Low Cost/High Impact Design for Downtowns (June 18); Use of Technology to Promote Downtown (Sept. 17); Green and Sustainable Downtowns (Oct. 15); Working with Big Box Retailers (Nov. 19); and Understanding the Potential of the Downtown Office Worker (Dec. 17).
How can community and economic development leaders assist the business community to revitalize their downtown? How will downtown weather the current economy? How can you enhance your downtown's image? How can technology be used to promote downtown? Are there ways to make downtown green and sustainable? How do you work with "big box" retailers?
These questions and many more will be answered during a ten-month webinar conference series held from noon until 1:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month throughout 2009. The webinar for southwest Wisconsin will be held in the upstairs conference room at Wisconsin Community Bank, 1717 10th Street (just off the Square) in Monroe. The Revitalizing Wisconsin's Downtown Series is offered via live, interactive Web, allowing participants to gather at a regional site and interact with presenters and other participants around the state.
The series is presented by the UW Extension's Local Government Center in cooperation with the Wisconsin Downtown Action Council and the Wisconsin Main Street Program. The southwest Wisconsin regional site is sponsored by Green County UW Extension, Monroe Main Street Program and Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
The first session, noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, is an overview of the 4-point Main Street Program. This program teaches communities development strategies such as marketing, business recruitment and retention, real estate development, market analysis, and public improvements while advocating the restoration of the historic character of downtown. Participants will learn about a variety of projects from successful Main Street programs.
Lunch will be provided, so participants must pre-register by calling Cara Carper at (608) 328-9441. The cost for each session is $12 or register for all 10 sessions for $100. Make checks payable to Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
Future programs in the series include: Downtowns and the Current Economy (Feb. 19); Creating an Entrepreneurial Climate Downtown (March 19); Downtown Image and Branding (April 16); Business Recruitment (May 21): Low Cost/High Impact Design for Downtowns (June 18); Use of Technology to Promote Downtown (Sept. 17); Green and Sustainable Downtowns (Oct. 15); Working with Big Box Retailers (Nov. 19); and Understanding the Potential of the Downtown Office Worker (Dec. 17).
