Waukegan Main Street’s

Comprehensive 2012 Work Plan

Waukegan Main Street’s Board of Directors has developed four priorities for 2012, including:

• · Strengthening Economic Development
• · Promoting Downtown Waukegan as a Destination
• · Improving Communication
• · Growing Our Community’s Viability & Walkability

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors will work toward these priorities by:

• · Developing and executing the fundraising process and ensuring sufficient funds for operating expenses
• · Maintaining a qualified, diverse Board of Directors
• · Maintaining the organization performance and financial integrity of WMS
• · Providing an adequate, efficient environment for WMS staff & volunteers
• · Maintaining a high level of program excellence and achieving local, state and national recognition for accomplishments.

Committees

Our 4 committees, described here by Illinois Main Street are:

• Organization brings the community together. Building consensus and cooperation among multiple district stakeholders is readily addressed by the local program’s volunteers and by the Main Street board and committee structure representing both downtown and stakeholder interests.
• Promotion sells both the image and promise of the Main Street district to shoppers, investors, new businesses, and visitors. With an effective promotion strategy, the Main Street district’s positive image is promoted through retail promotions, special events, and marketing campaigns implemented by the local program.
• Design addresses the district’s physical environment. Capitalizing on the district’s best assets, such as historic buildings and traditional layout, is one part of Main Street design work. Other design-related activities, such as merchandising, wayfinding, sidewalks, and landscaping, help convey a visual message about what Main Street has to offer.
• Economic Restructuring improves the commercial district economy. By helping existing businesses expand and recruiting new business that respond to today’s market, Main Street programs help convert unused space into productive properties and cultivate local and regional entrepreneurship.

The four committees will work toward these priorities by:

Organization Committee:

• · Holding the Mardi Gras Fundriaser & Lunch with the Mayor Fundriaser
• · Publishing our Annual Report
• · Hosting a Volunteer Appreciation event and Annual Meeting to elect new Board members
• · Coordinating our membership and recruiting new volunteers

Promotion Committee:

• · Promoting local businesses and special events and ensuring WMS participation in parades and local community events
• · Developing and publicizing a comprehensive calendar of all downtown events
• · Utilizing social media to attract new event attendees and volunteers
• · Sponsoring WMS special events including Wine & Art Stroll and a holiday festival

Design Committee:

• · Updating and analyzing an historic building survey database and pursuing individual property local landmark statuses
• · Providing design assistance and incentives through the Sign, Lighting & Awning Program
• · Planning an art & architecture park, urban green space, and alleyscapes
• · Educating the community about historic preservation and design

Economic Restructuring Committee:

• · Programming events designed to retain current businesses and recruit new businesses, including a Restaurant Crawl and a Night on Main Street new businesses recruitment event.
• · Working to retain our current businesses by offering services such as webpages for each business, kiosk advertising, and reviewing logistics of advertising, parking, and customer outreach
• · Communicating effectively with our business owners through a monthly newsletter, regular emails and a business retention & expansion survey
• · Helping to make downtown Waukegan a friendly destination for business, shopping, arts & entertainment by pursuing relationships with regional organizations and developing new partnerships.

Staff

The staff of Waukegan Main Street will work cooperatively with our volunteer Board and committees to implement all of these goals and priorities, and in addition will work toward:

• · Formalizing a strategic plan for economic development in Waukegan, with the City of Waukegan
• · Working with potential downtown business owners and recruiting new businesses
• · Opening a temporary storefront visitors center on Genesee Street while working towards funding for a permanent Waukegan Visitors Center
• · Continuing to program and promote the monthly ArtWauk events, designed to bring people to our neighborhood and to promote available retail spaces.
• · Working with the new Sustainability Committee, modeled on National Main Street program examples.
• · Improving communication throughout our region about exciting events in downtown Waukegan.
• · Communicating regularly with downtown property owners and working to resolve any issues.
• · Building relationships with city, county and state economic development organizations with the goal of making downtown Waukegan business and developer friendly.