Did you know that there are 160 properties within the business improvement district in Monroe? Or that there is a business improvement district? They are found throughout the country, sometimes under different names, but are a specific area within a municipality made up of contiguous parcels. Specifically in Monroe, our Business Improvement District (BID) includes the square and about three blocks off in all directions. It looks like a bit of a jagged puzzle piece though when the exact boundaries are drawn on a map. Its existence predates Main Street Monroe, Inc.
It was formed in the 1980’s and, pursuant to state laws, has acted a tool to be specially assessed, with the additional tax revenue proceeds going to fund a set of activities developed by the BID members. The less legal speak is that the BID was created to raise additional funding to support the downtown district from which the funds are coming. And so, virtually all the properties in the district pay an additional tax to help fund downtown initiatives. The BID board, separate from Main Street Monroe and other entities, operates in a sense as its owning taxing entity, allocating that funding to help with our efforts.
In January and February, I wrote about our efforts to create a strategic plan — one that will set priorities, determine how we focus energy and maximize limited resources, strengthen our organization, and ensure that we and other stakeholders and our partners are working toward common goals. In order to work towards a 20 year vision — one that has a vibrant downtown and factors in not only the visitor experience but also residential — we are starting with those who have a lot of skin in the game.
Specifically, the 100 unique property owners in the Business Improvement District. Working with state staff at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), we have drafted a 22-question survey that we believe will be succinct but allow for nuance and comment during the in person visit. Volunteers helping with the surveys will go through a brief training session (by WEDC staff) to help understand the goals and purpose and their roles in this.
Questions will go beyond preferred contact methods to include a Main Street impact piece. “How do you rank the local business climate?” That will follow “what is the biggest challenge facing you as a property owner?” It is possible that answers may be the same, but it may be totally different than what they think we can do (i.e. workforce). We are looking for value judgement, especially within context. We will be asking questions that we are able to and willing to act on in the immediate and long term.
This survey will be followed by a second round for business owners and owners who are both property and business owners. Recipients will also have the option to complete the survey online, but as we look to further collaboration, opportunities and challenges, a dream list of 1,000 of the best volunteer hours and unlimited budget, we are setting the direction with those within the area that looks like a puzzle piece — those who have had an ongoing financial investment in our and downtown’s success. Perhaps many will still be here in five years. Perhaps they are confident that the national economy will not overly impact their property investments in downtown Monroe. It is fitting that this one large, key puzzle piece will be helping us define our vision and the steps that will go with it no matter the answers.
— Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net. Complete details on Main Street Monroe and its efforts can be found at mainstreetmonroe.org.
