MONROE - The Monroe Main Street Board of Directors got a first look Tuesday at the steps set out for implementing ideas developed for "Downtown ... and Beyond."
"Downtown ... and Beyond" is a plan to revitalize the downtown business district and possibly put the name "Monroe" on the lips of many more tourists and customers in the region.
Tripp Muldrow, of Arnett Muldrow and Associates, presented the board with an implementation strategy chart, outlining steps to be taken to incorporate many ideas his company has suggested.
The chart lists actions for the next 10 years in five strategy areas.
Muldrow said he deliberately included both easy and difficult steps in each area. Completing the easy steps he said would be "impetus" for carrying forward on the plan.
The strategies range from creating investment opportunities and "the look" of the Square to marketing Monroe and drawing visitors to the area.
Actions in each category have been assigned to appropriate Monroe Main Street committees, the city and other community partners.
The board members made few changes to the steps. One action they felt needed immediate attention was work on the promotional kiosks in the up-coming Wal-Mart and Menard stores, first slated for 2009-10.
The kiosks were included as part of the large stores' development plans with the city. Muldrow said he had never known of another example of this happening in any other city he has worked with.
"The city has done its part. I think it's up to Main Street to do the promoting," he said.
The board decided the Monroe Main Street Design Committee would be the one to contact the stores while still in development stages, to ensure what the kiosk design area will look like. The Promotion Committee will eventually take on the work of upkeep and maintenance of downtown business information located in each kiosk.
The board also recognized a detailed survey and the proposed "look" of the Square would need city approval.
The cost of outer ring improvements to incorporate that look "from building front to curb" would take an undetermined amount of money. But Muldrow estimated about $200,000 to $300,000 per side of the Square, or about $800,000 to $1.2 million. Those improvements are not scheduled until after 2008, giving the board time to determine funding sources.
Mayor Ron Marsh asked if the inner and outer rings of the Square design and reconstruction were contingent on each other.
"No, the beauty of this plan is that one is not dependent upon the other, but they will work together," Muldrow said.
The board focused much attention on the idea of developing a culinary center, which Muldrow called "a huge project that requires a sophisticated level of planning."
Corporate sponsorship could help, he said. The center would be used to promote the area's unique food and beverage industries and to draw out-of-towners to the region.
"From what I've heard, there is a lot of interest in this," Monroe Main Street Chairman Mike Sanders said. "We have the cheese and beer tie-ins, if we could get four or five complementary corporations."
Barb Nelson, director of Monroe Main Street, said the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and UW-Extension had expressed interest in helping to develop the project.
The board discussed possible location, expected space needed, opening the center in phases, visiting a similar project in Greenwood, Miss. and hiring a full-time person dedicated to the project's development.
"Downtown ... and Beyond" is a plan to revitalize the downtown business district and possibly put the name "Monroe" on the lips of many more tourists and customers in the region.
Tripp Muldrow, of Arnett Muldrow and Associates, presented the board with an implementation strategy chart, outlining steps to be taken to incorporate many ideas his company has suggested.
The chart lists actions for the next 10 years in five strategy areas.
Muldrow said he deliberately included both easy and difficult steps in each area. Completing the easy steps he said would be "impetus" for carrying forward on the plan.
The strategies range from creating investment opportunities and "the look" of the Square to marketing Monroe and drawing visitors to the area.
Actions in each category have been assigned to appropriate Monroe Main Street committees, the city and other community partners.
The board members made few changes to the steps. One action they felt needed immediate attention was work on the promotional kiosks in the up-coming Wal-Mart and Menard stores, first slated for 2009-10.
The kiosks were included as part of the large stores' development plans with the city. Muldrow said he had never known of another example of this happening in any other city he has worked with.
"The city has done its part. I think it's up to Main Street to do the promoting," he said.
The board decided the Monroe Main Street Design Committee would be the one to contact the stores while still in development stages, to ensure what the kiosk design area will look like. The Promotion Committee will eventually take on the work of upkeep and maintenance of downtown business information located in each kiosk.
The board also recognized a detailed survey and the proposed "look" of the Square would need city approval.
The cost of outer ring improvements to incorporate that look "from building front to curb" would take an undetermined amount of money. But Muldrow estimated about $200,000 to $300,000 per side of the Square, or about $800,000 to $1.2 million. Those improvements are not scheduled until after 2008, giving the board time to determine funding sources.
Mayor Ron Marsh asked if the inner and outer rings of the Square design and reconstruction were contingent on each other.
"No, the beauty of this plan is that one is not dependent upon the other, but they will work together," Muldrow said.
The board focused much attention on the idea of developing a culinary center, which Muldrow called "a huge project that requires a sophisticated level of planning."
Corporate sponsorship could help, he said. The center would be used to promote the area's unique food and beverage industries and to draw out-of-towners to the region.
"From what I've heard, there is a lot of interest in this," Monroe Main Street Chairman Mike Sanders said. "We have the cheese and beer tie-ins, if we could get four or five complementary corporations."
Barb Nelson, director of Monroe Main Street, said the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and UW-Extension had expressed interest in helping to develop the project.
The board discussed possible location, expected space needed, opening the center in phases, visiting a similar project in Greenwood, Miss. and hiring a full-time person dedicated to the project's development.