Looking Backward, Looking Ahead

The Roman icon for the New Year was Janus, god of beginnings and transitions, gates and doors, endings and time--usually represented as a two-faced god looking ahead to the future and backwards into the past (we derive both January and janitor from Janus).  This post, Janus-like, will review Columbia's progress and potential at the transition point into 2012.

As the recession wanes, Columbia seems to be emerging from the economic downturn in relatively good shape.  The long-awaited transformation of Shoemaker School into the Monroe County Welcome Center was completed this year, part of an expansion of local tourism. There has been some new commercial development (a Dollar General store and a new building for Quality Collision & Towing), more than forty new home starts, little increase in commercial vacancies and an upswing in the number of new businesses opening, including several along Main Street, which is developing a stronger identity through joint promotional efforts.  Sales tax collections are at a five-year high.

Even more important may be the foundation Columbia is preparing for future economic growth.  A county-wide tourism effort focused on the historic Cahokia-Kaskaskia Trail is gathering momentum and producing results.  Locally, Columbia is finally moving ahead with locating and commemorating Piggot's Fort, the largest fortified American settlement in the American Bottoms of the late 18th Century.  City leaders are beginning a marketing effort to retailers and other developers that may begin to pay dividends by matching businesses pursuing expansion plans (like ECF, Inc.) with developable parcels.  City government is also pushing ahead with updated planning and a long-awaited investment strategy for Main Street.  Economic development professionals from both the City's Community & Economic Development Department and the Monroe County Economic Development Council will be renewing efforts to support growth of small entrepreneurs in every way possible--both will be using the newly-developed strategic plan (completed in 2011) as a guide.

Sounds Like a Plan (2012)

In December each year, while others are checking their Christmas lists one final time, the City of Columbia's Community & Economic Development Department (CEDD) compiles another list. The annual Community & Economic Development Strategy guides the City's efforts each year to build a better community and expand economic activity.

The overall goal for CEDD is "[to] expand and enhance City and community revenues and assets so as to steadily increase available resources, broaden service delivery, and improve the quality of life for all citizens."

The Strategy is outcomes-based, establishing goals and then defining activities that will support their achievement. This approach ties CEDD's activities to community goals, guides program development and makes it possible to gauge accomplishments. The Columbia City Council reviewed achievements (as well as shortfalls) of the 2011 strategy earlier this month; last evening, they adopted the strategy proposed for 2012.

Objectives for 2012 are as follows:

1. Encourage new businesses to form and grow in Columbia

a. Work with the Monroe County Economic Development Council (MCEDC) to develop program(s) that will encourage and support local entrepreneurs

2. Retain businesses in the City of Columbia by supporting their long-term success

a. Encourage Columbia’s citizens to support local businesses

 Continue to support MCEDC’s “Think Monroe County First!” campaign

b. Provide direct services to current businesses

 Continue business retention/expansion visits through MCEDC

 Use a multi-agency team approach to address needs of local firms identified through these visits

 Continue to support the Admiral Parkway Redevelopment Area through administration and tax increment financing

c. Support expansion of current businesses through loans and incentives, where appropriate

 Expand the revolving loan program through strategic partnerships

 Assist MCEDC in developing new incentives for business expansion

3. Recruit new businesses to the community

a. Market available sites and buildings for businesses looking to expand and/or relocate

 Expand the marketing campaign to promote Columbia with office & retail users throughout Greater St. Louis

 Engage local & regional partners (i.e., developers, MCEDC, Leadership Council, Regional Chamber & Growth Ass’n.) in this effort

 Expand building & site listings on Location One Information System (LOIS), the primary platform for commercial real estate information

b. Maintain and distribute timely information on Columbia’s demographics, business mix, and economic potential

 Update community profile with the Illinois Department of Community & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

 Create new community marketing materials, including one or more promotional video(s)

4. Stimulate more commercial activity on Main Street

a. Enhance design consistency and the historic character of this corridor

 Building upon past efforts, develop a comprehensive Main Street revitalization strategy that includes market analysis, targeted improvements and planning for adequate parking & transit services

b. Increase private investment in Main St. properties

 Work with the Main St. Business Association (MSBA) to support business expansion and recruit new businesses into the corridor

5. Develop and market local sites & facilities that will entice visitors and locals to learn more about Columbia’s history and heritage

a. Market Columbia and Monroe County as tourist destinations

 Partner with Columbia’s lodging and conference facilities to support a direct sales position

 Include tourism promotion as an integral part of the strategic marketing campaign

 Effectively market & cooperatively staff the Monroe County Welcome Center

b. Develop community signage that blends aesthetics and commercial promotion in the highest & best manner

 Assist MSBA in securing signage on I-255 for “Historic Main St. Columbia” and installing banners along Main St.

 Review community entrance signage and informational banner use to reduce clutter and improve aesthetics

6. Enhance Columbia’s reputation as one of the most desirable communities in the region through adoption of updated planning

a. Update the City’s Master Plan (recommended every five years)

 Incorporate the Senior Services Assessment and revised Open Space, Bicycle & Greenway Alignment into the Master Plan

b. Cooperate with the City of Waterloo, Monroe County and other partners to develop a Community Planning Area (CPA) sustainability plan

7. Expand resources for parks & recreational uses to make Columbia “a great place to play”

a. Continue to work for expanded use of parks and recreation facilities

 Complete transfer of the Piggot’s Fort commemorative site

 Complete the master plan for the park within the Admiral Trost Development

 Build upon the Open Space, Bicycle & Greenway Alignment Plan to create a city-wide alternative transportation plan

 Create a comprehensive operational program for parks & recreation

b. Expand resources available for parks & recreation services and facilities

 Continue to pursue grants from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources and other sources

 Develop a program of grants, planned giving and other mechanisms to help fund long-term improvements

8. Support community activities, celebrate milestones and add to the local quality of life

a. Increase community involvement in and support for local events

 Initiate an ambassadors program to increase volunteer support for events

b. Identify needs and mobilize support for an enhanced quality of life

 Involve other community partners in completing a Community Development Inventory with recommendations for coordinated/common efforts

The Main (Street) Event: Five New Players

Last Thursday, Nora Feuquay from the Monroe County Economic Development Council (MCEDC) and Paul Ellis from the City of Columbia Community & Economic Development Department began retention visits with Main Street merchants.  The purpose of these visits is to build a database of local businesses and get to know them better so as to provide assistance when it's needed--even better, before help is needed.

Columbia's Main Street has developed a new vitality that is reflected in the diversity of these first five merchants visited by the local economic development team:

Evalina's Antique Cafe - After years of success with Winghorse Farms on Triple Lakes Road, Barbara Ratz decided to follow a new dream and open an antique shop at 124 S. Main; she also sells desserts and serves soup and sandwiches amid the antiques, consignment items and locally-made crafts.

Fashion Attic - Lori Prior has transferred her skills as a successful Realtor into a run as owner of a consignment shop at 128 S. Main, where she offers stylish clothing, jewelry, hats, purses, and bags for discriminating customers.

Above & Beyond Design by Marla - After years of working for a corporation, Marla Vogt struck out on her own to design custom kitchens for customers from Waterloo to Chesterfield; she opened her showroom at 128 S. Main after working out of her home and winning customer acclaim.

Chateau La Vin - Another refugee from the corporate world, Bob Freyman opened Chateau La Vin Wine Shop & Tasting Bar at 119 S. Main just a few months ago; his shop offers a respite from shopping where customers can sip wine and watch the traffic go by.

Who Dat's Southern Food - Bourbon St. meets the Midwest at 123 S. Main in Who Dat's, where Creole is king and owner Chris Salvage offers Southern hospitality with the cuisine.

Even though each of these five relatively new firms is unique, they share at least two common characteristics--optimism for the future, and the sense that Columbia's Main Street is where their future fortunes (literal and figurative) will be found.

Columbia's Past May Have a Future

Last week's forum regarding location of Piggot's Fort drew a robust crowd of people and sparked community interest in pursuing what is arguably one of the most significant historic locations in early Illinois.

With strong support from the Illinois War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, the event surfaced new resources and new people that will help local groups move forward on four proposed projects that will help Piggot's Fort achieve the widespread and lasting recognition it deserves:

1. Completing transfer of a proposed park site along Bluff Rd. from the Columbia Historical Society to the City of Columbia, a process begun in 2007 but not yet completed;
2. Convening an expert panel to identify the true site of Piggot's Fort, if such identification is still possible;
3. Developing the above mentioned park site as a location commemorating Piggot's Fort and interpreting its contribution to the European settlement of Illinois;
4. Working with the appropriate groups and agencies to identify and commemorate genealogies and other historic records, gravesites and building sites for the Piggots, Whitesides and other pioneer settlers.

Each of these efforts received a boost from the turnout at last week's event, but more help will be needed.  Interested individuals should contact the Heritage & Preservation Commission about opportunities to get involved.