Over the past 12 months, the NDDC workload has included a variety of activities and initiatives. We have continued the last four years’ intensive focus on the economic vitality of our authentic downtown.
As we have said before, our efforts are structured on the National Trust’s Main Street Program’s Four Points. These are: Organizing, Promoting, Designing, and Restructuring. We’ve reported on our 2007 activities using this same format.
The NDDC’s Organizing efforts included the:
- Monthly Forums on Topics of Interest to Stakeholders
- Block Head Gathering on the Downtown Management District
- Quarterly Meetings with the Chamber of Commerce
- Public Meetings on the Retail Support Strategies
- Fourth Annual ArtSwirl
- Block Head Gathering on Rising Real Estate Taxes
The NDDC’s Promoting efforts included the:
- Welcome Student Campaign
- Shop Local for the Holidays Campaign
- 2nd Annual Taste of Northfield
- Stripping for Girls Nite Out
- Support for the Historical Society’s Hometown 4th Celebration, the Chamber’s Crazy Daze, and the Northfield’s Farmers’ Market
- Parents Weekends Gift Bags
The NDDC’s Designing efforts included the:
- Advocating for benches, bike racks, pedestrian safety and way-finding signage
- Partnering with the City on the Downtown Banner Program
- Public Support for the City’s Streetscape Projects
- Public Praise for the City’s Spring Cleaning
- Advocating for the Mill Towns’ Trail’s Urban Connection
- National Trust’s Main Street Workshops in Seattle
The NDDC’s Restructuring efforts include:
- Researching, Designing and Pursing the Creation of a Special Services District
- Researching, Designing and Pursuing Actions Steps on the Real Estate Tax Issue
- Sponsoring the U of M Extension Service’s presentation on the Northfield Retail Trade Analysis
- Publicly Identifying and Recommending Solutions to the Economic Challenges highlighted by the Las Delicias Closing
- Meeting with the EDA and the City Administrator on Business-Friendliness
- Advocating for the Library, the Liquor Store and the Board of Appeals
The Board of Directors of the NDDC holds an annual planning session. At this session the current year’s priorities are reviewed and the upcoming year’s priorities are established and will continue to reflect the breadth of activities encouraged by the Main Street Program’s Four Points. The NDDC’s priorities for 2008 will be posted on this site in the very near future.
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