Saint Joseph Wildly Important Goals (aka "WIGS")

At our community Town Hall event on May 27th, attendees were broken into four groups to discuss community goals, aligned with the Main Street 4 Point approach to economic development. These four points are:

• Organization - involves building a governing framework that includes a diverse representation of business and property owners, bankers, citizens, historians, public officials, chambers of commerce, and other preservation organizations. Everyone must work together in a long-term effort to renew downtown and maintain its stability into the future. The organization committee also trains and develops leaders for the community's revitalization effort. Activities of a start-up Organization Committee begin with creating a not-for-profit organization, establishing priorities through comprehensive work plans, providing the organization with sustainable sources of revenue, and volunteer development.
• Economic Vitality - involves analyzing current market forces to develop long-term solutions; recruiting new businesses and strengthening the existing competitiveness of the traditional merchants and service businesses, while diversifying the economic base; creatively converting unused space for new uses, and working closely with the Design Committee to seek appropriate solutions for historic commercial buildings that will ensure their continued occupancy, maintenance and preservation.
• Design - enhances the visual attractiveness of downtown. This includes technical assistance and encouragement to building owners toward the restoration and rehabilitation of historic structures, street and alley cleanup, colorful banners and landscaping. Attention must be paid to safe and efficient infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and the appearance of storefronts, signs, street lights, window displays and graphic materials. Design improvements should be developed through a public-private partnership by reinvestment of public and private dollars in downtown.
• Promotion - projects a positive, unified image to identify downtown as a gathering place. Revitalization programs market the district and the community through a series of targeted activities such as special events and festivals, which highlight the local culture, art, music, dance and traditions that give each community its unique identity.

Leaders from Main Street Missouri Connection guided over 100 St. Joseph attendees to develop "Wildly Important Goals," aka "WIGS" to get our community started on each of the four points. The following are the goals identified by our community members at the Town Hall.

ORGANIZATION

1. Cultivate and nurture relationships through actions, words, and outcomes
2. Identify clear, realistic, achievable, measurable goals and outcomes
3. Provide frequent communication focused on: measurable goals/outcomes (transparency), celebration of small and big milestones, and building community pride
4. Including and respecting the opinions and time of volunteers and community members
5. Promote and build community pride in all endeavors

ECONOMIC VITALITY

1. Work with Promotions to promote downtown parking opportunities
2. Provide resources to potential downtown business owners and current downtown business owners
3. Hotel/convention center
4. Create more variety of businesses and attractions
5. Create events with Promotions to drive people to businesses to ring cash registers

DESIGN

1. Create more attractive and safer spaces
2. Utilize spaces more effectively and efficiently
3. Create and promote an Endangered Buildings program
4. Create an attractive riverfront space
5. Provide welcoming places, including activating alleys

PROMOTION

1. Work with Economic Vitality to promote vacant spaces
2. Promote downtown as a safe, secure, and walkable place
3. Showcase parking opportunities downtown
4. Provide community members and visitors unique shopping opportunities
5. Create new events, such as architectural scavenger hunts, regional events, and street performers

As the Main Street Saint Joseph board begins to recruit committee members and community volunteers, our initial efforts as an organization will be focused on the above "WIGs."

If you'd like to stay updated on Main Street Saint Joseph's activities, news and volunteer opportunities, please complete our Volunteer & Interest Form.

By Dana Massin, Vice President, Main Street Saint Joseph