Main Street communities are being asked to place local merchant coupons in these cache boxes as a way to entice travelers to spend money in the community.  The coupon can be for a discount at your store, a free drink at your restaurant with a purchase, or anything else that you might feel would encourage a visit to your place of business.

 It is a fun way to get folks in our community who might not otherwise stop and there is a huge number of geocachers who go from place to place to play this game. So if you see folks rummaging through bushes along Washington St., they are probably searching for our cache.

 If your business would be willing to participate in this effort, please let the Main Street office know as soon as possible so that we can print up coupons to include in the West Side cache. Call Pat at 304-720-3161 or email at director@westsidemainstreet.org and let us know what you would offer to someone who finds the cache on the West Side.

 Additionally, a $5000 grant was awarded by the Sustainable Kanawha Valley Initiative (SKVI)to continue our efforts with the Bob Burdette Center garden.  The garden will be expanded and classes will be offered to parents in how to preserve their produce.

 The public art project to paint the piers under the interstate bridge was also funded by SKVI and will begin early in May.  This project is being  jointly sponsored by the Strong Neighborhoods Task Force of City Council, Festivall, West Side Main Street, and East End Main Street.

 February 2011 

  Last year was another very successful year for the Main Street program and our annual meeting in November highlighted the accomplishments we saw during 2010.

 Among those accomplishments were: 

• Began Phase I of the streetscape from Beatrice Street to Hunt Avenue by relocating utility lines along Washington St. Paving and new lighting will begin in the spring.
• conducted a marketing analysis of the West Side to determine what types of new businesses could be sustained on the West Side business corridor
• Began a survey of the buildings along Main Street district to begin developing a data base of all assets available in properties along the Washington St. corridor.  This data will be used to market West Side buildings to new business owners and developers.
• Obtained funding and developed the first piece of public art on the West Side in the 1500 block of Washington St.  The mural contains over 400 tiles painted by members of the community.
• Provided free design assistance and facade grants to business owners who updated their exterior buildings
• Redesigned the Main Street website to include a  directory that includes all businesses in the Main Street district along with their contact information and a map showing their location.  The new website can be accessed at http://westsidemainstreet.org
• Obtained funding and worked with the youth at the Bob Burdette Center and the Charleston West Kiwanis to start a small vegetable garden on a vacant lot beside Emmanuel Baptist Church designed to add green space and provide a learning opportunity for youth.
• Obtained over $90,000 in grant funding for West Side projects
• Hosted the West Side Wiener Dog Race and Ice Cream Social as part of Festivall, and held a successful fundraiser with OktoberWest.  Each of these events attracted over 1000 participants to the West Side.

The Main Street volunteer committees are currently finalizing their work plans for 2011 and we look forward to another successful year of revitalization efforts.

 West Side Main Street was fortunate to receive assistance from the Main Street West Virginia program and the WV Development Office in conducting a market analysis of the West side of Charleston.  The market analysis is a regional and neighborhood study of economic, demographic and other factors used to determine supply and demand, market trends, and other factors in the marketplace. 

Dr. Matt Wagner of the University of Wisconsin spent several days on the West Side meeting with West Side staff and volunteers to set up the process for the analysis.  Demographic and sales data was collected from West Side businesses and focus groups of residents, business owners, young professionals, and creative groups were held to solicit input. 

Among the findings of the market analysis were:

• Over 25,000 cars pass along Washington St. W each day
• The neighborhood population while approximately, 9900, also shows a population of 64,700 within a 7 mile radius of the West Side business district
• There are a number of high traffic anchors in Pile Hardware, Charleston Department Store and Women and Children’s Hospital
• There is easy access to the Interstate

All of these factors are important in demonstrating that the area has the population and exposure to attract shoppers to businesses that meet their needs. 

New business targets were identified as: pet store supplies; office supplies; fitness centers;sporting goods; jewelry stores; third space cafes and coffee houses; ethnic restaurants, technology internet based start up firms, creative class industries such as engineers, designers, artists,writers, planners, photographers, and software developers.  It was also suggested that the public sector be expanded to include a dog park. 

These recommendations are currently being reviewed by the Economic Restructuring Committee with a goal of developing a packet of information that will be used with developers and owners seeking new business opportunities.

 Time Commitment:  This assignment requires significant volunteer hours throughout the year depending upon the volunteer’s ability to plan and implement an event.

 Responsibilities:  The volunteer event planner will be responsible for working with the WSMS Executive Director to coordinate the major fundraiser for the organization to occur in late September or early October.

 Beginning in May send out sponsor letters to introduce self and let them know a follow up call will be forthcoming to solicit sponsorship

• Develop a list of potential sponsors and assign committee members to contact and follow up to secure sponsorships
• Secure appropriate permits for the event: street closing, open container waiver, ABC, police presence
• Contact City to secure tables, chairs, gates, stage, trash receptacles
• In conjunction with WSMS Director arrange for beer distributor, sanitation, tent rental, band, and decorations
• Plan the menu and arrange for committee members to contact various vendors for contributions of food for the event.
• Arrange catering with The Grill and David Arthur
• Arrange for a volunteer to be the grill master and volunteers to man the food tables.
• Work with a committee member to contact volunteers to secure assignments for the various areas of the event that need staffed
• Assign a committee member to oversee volunteer assignments and revise as needed
• Assign a coordinator to be available for delivery and pick up of food items and amenities at the site.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director, ordering tickets, wrist bands, signage, tent and table sponsors, cups, and other materials that need to be printed. Securing health permit
• Secure decorations for area

  If you are interested in volunteering for this project, please contact the WSMS Director at  304-720-3161 or director@westsidemainstreet.org

Our Website : http://www.westsidemainstreet.org

director@westsidemainstreet.org