The follow-up meeting to the Downtown Assessment Resource Team Visit (D.A.R.T. ) was held on May 30th, 2007. At this meeting participants reviewed the draft of the DART Report. After reviewing the results and recommendations from the Heritage Ohio DART Team Members, work groups were formed to take on a Four Point Approach to making a new economic impact in downtown Painesville. The work groups formed consisted of Promotion, Design, Organization and Economic Restructuring. Each work group discussed the following: Work Groups or Committees: The following are the priorities set by each work group. Join us at the General Meeting of Downtown Painesville held the 1st Tueday of each Month at 154 Main Street, Main Street Memories. Committee reports are given at each general meeting and sign-ups for committee's are taken. I. Promotion Committee Meets 3rd Wednesday of each month, 11:30 am at Jimmy's Restaurant, Downtown The Promotion Committee involves marketing the downtown’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses, tourists, and others. Effective promotion creates a positive image of the downtown through retail promotional activity and special events utilizing the downtown as a stage area of community activities. This committee markets the downtown as a destination to entice shoppers, investors and visitors. a. Immediate: Aggressively advertising events and businesses via utility bills, Painesville Pride, websites and local cable channels; Piggybacking on existing events (LEC Football, etc.) Including the booths they had at Party in the Park/Art in the Park/Taste of Painesville b. Short-term: They are working toward common store hours;and Coupon books for general public and students c. Long-term: They are working to encourage citizen participation via focus groups; Special market events in parks and parking lots (nursery stock, wine fairs, educational fairs, job fairs, home tours) II. Organization Committee Meets 2nd Firday of each month, 9:00 am at Morley Library, Downtown The Organization Committee involves building consensus and cooperation between the groups that play a role in the downtown. Many individuals and organizations in the community have a stake in the economic viability of the downtown. This committee works to build an organizational framework that is representative of a broad range of community supporters, including civic groups, merchants, bankers, property owners, citizens, public officials, county officials, and the Chamber of Commerce. a. Immediate;They are setting up event booths for Downtown Painesville at Community Events; Write the quarterly newsletter- info/communications b. Short-Term:Membership drive;Event Networking; Membership Newsletter focused on non-members;Spotlight businesses c. Long-term: Hire New Downtown Manager III. Economic Restructuring Meets at various times throughout each month, contact Neil Conway at Conway Land & Tile for details. The Economic Restructuring Committee involves strengthening the existing economic base of the downtown while diversifying it. Economic Restructuring activities include helping existing downtown business expand, recruiting new businesses, providing a balanced mix, converting unused space to productive property, and sharpening the competitiveness of downtown merchants. This committee analyzes current market forces to develop long-term strategies and solutions for the economic revitalization of the downtown. a. Immediate: Hospital downtown land use study; Welcome visitors to rec park for LEC Football; Financial institutions providing financial assistance b. Short-term: Reuse of vacant school buildings; Proposal to investors for use of holiday inn property c. Long-term: Hospital downtown land use implementation; Overall plan for downtown redevelopment IV. Design Committee Meets 1st Friday of each month, 12:30 pm at Roberto's Restaurant, Downtown The Design Committee involves improving the downtown’s image by improving the appearance of buildings, and also of street lights, window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, streetscapes, landscaping, promotional materials and all other elements that convey a visual message about what the downtown is and what it has to offer. This committee works to enhance the aesthetics of the business districts. a. Immediate: Better lighting downtown b. Short-term: Hanging pots (Garden Club); Better lighting downtown/Historic lights extended; Outdoor murals; Paint it/Fix it/Clean it c. Long-term: Façade and sidewalks; Make downtown and parks uniform