Business retention program discussed

BY TOM LAVENTURE

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Ironwood — The city of Ironwood’s business retention program led discussion at the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority meeting Thursday.

In his report, Tom Bergman, city community development director, said the work this past month included strategies to continue the city’s business retention program that is part of the Downtown Blueprint Plan and the city-wide Comprehensive Plan. The work is to define the city’s role in helping to identify potential business owners to take over downtown businesses that close, he said.

“We work on the marketing end and when someone does come we try to create an experience for them and make them feel part of the comunity right away,” Bergman said. “We are working with the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) for succession planning and recruiting ideas, for dentistries specifically.”

Bergman said he attended the Michigan Economic Development Association conference in Marquette, where he learned business retention is an issue across the entire Midwest. Cities along Lake Superior have had success attracting health professionals by touting the outdoor recreation and lifestyle opportunities such as trails and parks, skiing and kayaking, he said.

There is ongoing work to have an incubator and cohort space project plan available in October, he said. There is also work to identify economic development opportunities with the grants available from the disaster grants related to the flooding.

Tim Erickson, comunity development specialist, led meeting discussion on the First Friday events and the need for a review process to build success with next year’s events. A survey of downtown businesses provided positive and negative responses for how the event is helping downtown.

The farmer’s market reported slower business on First Friday nights, he said. The board said discussions with the farmer’s market board should take place to see how to better incorporate the events to work together as well as plan more music events and activities in different areas to encourage more foot traffic around downtown.

Erickson also unveiled the new travelironwood.com website. The board members said the functionality and attractiveness of the site has improved.

In other business, the board requested an updated alleyway improvement plan. The current plan is 11 years old and should be updated on a five year schedule.

Michael Meyer, director of the Ironwood Area Chamber of Commerce, said he is scheduling the initial Jack Frost Festival planning group for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug 29 at the Downtown Depot. There will be changes to this year’s events on Dec. 6-7 and anyone who is interested in taking part in the planning and organizing work should attend, he said.

The board 6-0 approved renewing an annual $500 pocket park snow removal contract with James Gregory. Further discussion led to directing staff and board members to discuss shared snow removal agreements with neighboring businesses to save costs and for efficiency.

Board members Nancy Korpela and Annette Burchell were not present.

The board 6-0 approved a Christmas wreath contract for $26 dollars per each 48-inch wreath.