By Jamie Schriner-Hooper
Organizational Specialist
Michigan Main Street Center
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Ok, so this week I really just want to rant a bit. I have a few pet peeves, as everyone does. Mine include people using the word “over” when they really mean “more than,” as well as the word “towards,” which isn’t really a word. Lose the “s” and you’re in business. So, while I seem to be going off on a grammar rant, I really do have a point...

My latest pet peeve is the economy, or more to the point, the constant reinforcement that our economy is terrible and that our state is going to pot. I hate that every conversation somehow turns to the economy. You might be talking about what you had for dinner last night and somehow, some way, someone will turn the conversation to the negative state of our state. I’m getting tired of being the only person in the room saying “It will get better!”

While many households in Michigan have been hit by the bleak economy, we’ve been going through this for the last few years. It’s nothing new. My family has been hit by the poor economy. My husband’s previous employer decided that Michigan was no longer a viable market. We disagreed and he took the plunge and opened his own company. My father, grandfathers, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members worked for GM. That is no longer the case, but they are all finding ways to remake and remodel their careers. The nation’s media is just now picking up on the fact that the rest of the country is now facing the same issues and dilemmas that Michiganders have been facing for some time.

Yes, I agree that the economy is bad, but dwelling on in and reinforcing it in every way you’re able certainly isn’t going to make it any better. Our downtown business owners know that dwelling on the negative is not a way to succeed. The rest of the country needs to learn this. Small business 101 says that you put your best face forward. When a customer walks into a small business, the proprietor certainly doesn’t load them down with how terrible things are, their hours are long, product isn’t selling, they need to go to the bank, etc. If they do, they certainly won’t be in business for long. No one wants to give their hard-earned dollars to a business that they don’t think will be around next month. We need to learn to do the same.

Instead of dwelling on the doom and gloom of the economy, look at what is good. The simple fact is that things will get better. Our state is diversifying. It might not be today or tomorrow or even this year, but things will get better. And, better yet, you personally can help to make things better. What, you ask, can one person do? It’s simple. Spend your pennies with the businesses and people you want to see remain open. Like that coffee shop on the corner? Go there for lunch instead of the fast food joint. Enjoy the distinct gift store downtown? Purchase your gifts there instead of at the big box store at the mall or online. Chances are, you’ll have a much better shopping experience downtown than at the alternative. Personally, I’m not a fan of a teenager chomping their gum and ignoring me until I hand them my cash. I much prefer going to a small, locally-owned and unique boutique where I can chat with the owner and know that my money is staying in the neighborhood. Plus, as an added bonus, you usually get a beautifully-wrapped and distinct end product.

So, as my husband would say, buck up there little camper. Things will get better, but in the mean time, take a cue from your favorite small business owner: stop your yammerin’ and put on a happy face!

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Editor's Note: This week the Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA welcomed Jamie Schriner-Hooper to the team as our new Organization Specialist. We are thrilled to have her. She shares her thoughts on the move in this week's post.

By Jamie Schriner-Hooper
Organization Specialist
Michigan Main Street Center
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

So, Joe took my idea for a title with his Ch-ch-ch-Changes idea. Granted, I wouldn’t have thought of something as clever as that (have to do a bit of sucking up my first week), but my first blog idea is also all about changes. (Editor’s Note: Nancy Finegood actually named her own blog post last week, but the sucking up is always appreciated. However, I will take full credit, or blame, for this post's title.)

As you may or may not know, I’ve come to the Michigan Main Street Center from Old Town Lansing. I was one of the infamous “Main Street Managers” who works so hard to transform a community from blighted and scary to funky and fabulous. I was in my position about four years, in which time I became extremely attached to my community.

So, why you ask, make a move to the State and leave Old Town? Well, as I’m sure you can imagine, there were a number of reasons, but what rises up to the top is that it was time for a change. For those of you who work on a Main Street program, you know what I’m talking about when I say your community becomes your life. A main street manager’s role is cheerleader, garbage man, accountant and counselor – all at once. I literally had my family surrounding me in Old Town with my husband, two sisters and best friend all within a two-block span of my office. However, there comes a time in your life that you really probably should take a step back, have a few weekends to yourself and share what you do, both right and wrong, with other communities. It was time for me to pass the reigns on to another lover of Old Town, who luckily enough, happens to be one of my past interns and a wonderful person.

Now I have the opportunity to share with the Main Street Managers and communities all of the things that I always wanted to do, but simply never had the time. I’m here to provide resources, the good reference materials and any support you need. Now I’m able to go through the many mountains of reference material I’ve collected through the years that I fully intended to read, but just created dusty mountains. I’ll be able to save you that time and effort and get you the stuff that I believe to be most valuable. I’ll be working with each of your communities, gathering the things that worked well, and the things that you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole, and provide those helpful tidbits to you and your committees.

What about those of you who aren’t a Main Street Manager or volunteer or don’t yet have a Main Street program in your community? I’m here to tell you all of the many reasons you should be working on a Main Street program and improving your community. I’ll come to you, talk to your community and the naysayers and show them how so many communities across the country are breathing new life into their downtowns. Believe me, you can’t argue with the statistics. They are impressive. Plus, this is a great way to quiet the people who always say “they should really do ____ to fix up the downtown.” We all know that you have no right to complain about things if you’re not making the effort to improve things. Main Street will get them involved. Even if you’ve tried things in the past and they didn’t quite work, try, try again. The times they are a changin’ and if you’re not on board to make sure that they’re changing in the right direction, you may end up with a downtown that looks like a ghost town or an Alpine village with everyone shopping at WalMart.

Long story short, I’m full of random ideas, resources and energy and am here to help. I look forward to working with each and every one of you and hearing your many crazy ideas!

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Editor's Note: We told you you would hear from more than the Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA staff! We're fortunate enough to have our partner and good friend Nancy Finegood from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network write for us this week. The MHPN is an extremely good source of information. If you haven't used them in your community, you should!

By Nancy Finegood
Executive Director
Michigan Historic Preservation Network
Finegood@mhpn.org
www.mhpn.org

At a time when change is the buzz word, you might ask what historic preservation has to do with it. Many believe that preservation is about history, stagnant in one point in time, whether it is the Victorian era or the Recent Past. I disagree.

Historic buildings often outlive their original purposes. Schools are closed because of dwindling enrollment in the neighborhood and pressure to build new, modern facilities. Congregations may leave their historic churches to follow the flight from the city to the suburbs. Many factories around the state have been abandoned, when there is no longer a demand for their product. When these once vital resources in the community are abandoned, they are often viewed as eyesores fit for the wrecking ball.

Adaptive reuse is all about change. It is a process that modifies buildings for new purposes while maintaining their historic integrity. Most older buildings have great potential for adaptation to a different use. However, it takes people with creative vision to see new life in the crumbling bricks and mortar. Adaptive reuse is also a very green way of thinking. It reduces the destruction of abandoned buildings and reduces the amount of debris going into landfills.

There are a variety of incentives available that encourage the reuse of historic buildings, Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act exemptions, Brownfield Tax Credits, New Market Tax Credits, Federal Rehabilitation Tax credits and the newly enhanced Michigan Rehabilitation Tax Credits.

There are many wonderful examples of adaptive reuse all over Michigan. The Inn at Ferry Street in Detroit’s New Center area developed when a local group was intent on saving several historic homes from demolition. The Inn has added a renewed vibrancy to the block that has echoed throughout the neighborhood.

Talk about a great example of innovation and change! Spartan Internet Consulting bought the 85-year-old Holmes Street School on Lansing’s Eastside for $115,000. The company estimates that a brand new 32,000 sq. ft. building would have cost $3 to $4 million, which is significantly more than the $2 million they are spending on the rehabilitation. The entire first floor will house the community-based Information Technology Empowerment Center to teach kids about technology and create a talent pool for local IT employers. Spartan’s headquarters are on the third floor.

If change is the destination, then historic preservation is the best route to take.

"...it is again no question of expediency or feeling whether we shall preserve the buildings of past times or not. We have no right whatever to touch them. They are not ours. They belong partly to those who built them, and partly to all the generations of mankind who are to follow us." John Ruskin, "The Lamp of Memory," 1848

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By Jodie Willobee
Promotion, Arts & Culture Specialist
Michigan Main Street Center
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

OK – I really don’t have any way to truly verify that our fair State of Michigan actually smiles. Sounds kind of ridiculous maybe, except I think we all know what she looks when she is unhappy. OK, you’ve got that picture in your head. Take a quick read and judge for yourself if this is the type of thing that can take her from a grumble to a grin.

Several on our Main Street team spent some time in Manistee this week (Laura Krizov, Kelly Larson, Dace Koenigsknecht and me) talking with a lot of interesting and energetic folks involved in their new Main Street Program. Manistee has recently brought on their first Main Street Manager a bright, articulate and equally energetic guy by the name of, Travis Alden.

Our purpose in spending two long (and very cold) days in Manistee was to help them and their brand new Manager, really hit the ground running. This was my first real participation in getting a new Main Street Program going and it was thrilling to be a part of – watching the enthusiasm in the room mix with a bit of hesitation as the reality of the program’s scope unfolds. Seeing their heads nod and the confidence in their step when they left the room, knowing that they really can do this because they really do believe in their downtown, and their downtown is worth it. I feel quite honored to be a part of their induction into Main Street. I believe the Manistee Main Street/DDA program is going to do great things for a downtown that already has such a rich history, stunning structures, gorgeous natural resources and priceless human resources.

So, back to Travis and why I think the State of Michigan would smile. The really cool thing about Travis is that while he was born and raised in Niles, Michigan, he has been living in Iowa and moved BACK to Michigan to take this Main Street job. BACK to Michigan! Imagine that. OK to be honest here, he seems to be a “downtown geek” like the rest of us and how can you not fall pretty hard for Manistee’s downtown, and that river, and those beaches!! But keep in mind he has not seen this city in flip-flops yet. He has only been there a couple weeks and for sure Manistee has been wearing her winter whites. And after two days of back-to-back meetings with barely a moment for a cup of coffee, Travis never flinched. He’s ready for this and we are all fortunate for that.

OK – so it is not a whole micro-enterprise with 250 great paying positions bursting into the State. But it is one, very strong position that will help secure Manistee’s foothold and push it forward. The Michigan Main Street program has been gathering amazing statistics for the last several years and the numbers are astounding. A healthy, active Main Street program in Michigan can expect across the board increases in business retention/attraction, redevelopment, business expansion, and staggering increase in volunteers who absolutely LOVE their downtowns and don’t hesitate to invest their time into making it even better.

So – my congratulations to Manistee for taking this calculated leap to become a Michigan Main Street. And thank you for helping to bring one of our “best and brightest” back to Michigan. What a coup for Manistee! What a coup for the Michigan Main Street Program! And, really, what a coup for the State of Michigan to get back talent, experience, education and enthusiasm – we all should be smiling on this one. (Now can you see it?)

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By Joe Borgstrom, Director
Specialized Technical Assistance
& Revitalization Strategy (STARS) Division
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

It seems like every paper everyday is shouting at us that we are in poor economic times. To make matters worse, you might have a council member or city manager eyeing your Downtown Development Authority (or other Tax Increment Financing- or TIF- mechanism) budget wondering how they can get that money “back” into the general fund. Maybe you’re a non-profit where the city or village is thinking about yanking their funding to pay for “core services." You probably feel like you and your budget are under attack by some of the very people who were singing your praises just two or three years ago. How do you fight that?

First off, you don’t fight, you educate. Fighting creates sides: yours and theirs. You want no part of a win-lose situation. Even if you win in the short term, you lose in end. The education you need to provide involves two keys areas: teamwork and leverage. Let’s look at both of these and how you can use them to continue to do the “core service" of downtown revitalization in an era of shrinking public (and private) funding.

Teamwork
Sometimes you just have to take one for the team. The reason your budget or contribution is being eyed is because it is needed. Tax revenues, especially in Michigan, are providing less and less for units of government to operate. If you’re sitting on a large amount of uncommitted TIF, you would be wise to chip in to help cover costs the local police, fire or DPW folks have normally just provided free of charge in the past (such as security and response to downtown events, barrier set up for parades, etc.) Most TIF laws in Michigan allow for the reimbursement of public services. If you can afford to do it, then you should. Better to give up a little now then have a ton of envy and ill will for years to come.

Possibly in lieu of or addition to partially reimbursing, your organization may also want to consider what services (or other value-added) can be provided for the revenue being contributed. For instance, if the city allows you to send your newsletter out with the water bill, see if your organization can lend volunteers to help stuff the envelopes instead of city staff. That will free up city staff to spend their time doing other things that could contribute revenue to the city. Be creative.

Leverage
One of the easiest mistakes councils and the general public make is the fact that not all of the TIF capture that a downtown organization captures is the local unit of government’s. Many times, the TIF is capturing county, library, transportation, community college and other taxes. If a council were to disband a TIF organization they would not get anywhere near the amount of money into the general fund they think. The money goes back to the taxing jurisdictions themselves. That means if Michigantown’s DDA captures $200,000 in TIF and the council decides to disband the DDA, the general fund may only get $100,000. That means $100,000 LESS will go directly to improve their community. Most of that money will leave the community’s immediate borders and may even fund competing communities. Add that to the fact if that TIF organization had any outstanding bonds, the city or village is then liable for their repayment.

The direct financing leverage education aside, the most powerful education a downtown professional can provide to their council and citizens is the leverage their organization provides by way of results, or in other words, their return on investment. How many businesses has your organization brought to town? How many have you retained? How many new jobs? How many people come to your events? How many buildings have been rehabbed? How many new residents are downtown? There a tons of measurable results your organization could and should be recording and reporting. Never assume everyone knows the good work you do. Like thrifty investors looking to buy stock in a company, councils are evaluating why they should give you any of the public’s precious resource. Prove you are good investment.

One last note: If your downtown organization doesn’t have a presence at your city or village council at least once a month, you should. Many times the lack of communication between downtown organizations and councils lead to the biggest fights over resources. Make sure they realize that the downtown revitalization efforts your organization provides are a "core service." Open and honest communication will help smooth relationships in even the roughest of economic times.

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By Joe Borgstrom, Director
Specialized Technical Assistance
& Revitalization Strategy Division
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Normally, I’m a supporter of local businesses and “shop local” campaigns. While folks nationally in the Main Street world are split on their effectiveness, I believe any discussion about how supporting local businesses supports your local economy and educates the general public to that effect can’t be bad. These campaigns often point out businesses that offer everyday sundries, cute niche businesses and funky retail shops. Businesses that one would want to frequent or “discover” something unique that you can’t find anywhere else. I didn’t think that a community could hurt its own image doing this…could they? You bet they can.

This past holiday season I watched several television co-op ad campaigns for three or four communities in Mid-Michigan. The commercials urged me to “Shop (community name) for the Holidays.” The tag was then followed by a couple of co-op ads featuring local businesses and the tag repeated again. Not bad right? You want to advertise during the holiday season so people will bring some of their hard earned money to your downtown and buy gifts and create special memories that make them want to come back and spend more later as well. The biggest problem with these particular campaigns is that one assumes when you are shopping during the holiday season that you are talking about retail sales, right? You know, gifts for people at the holidays? Not so fast. That’s where the train goes of the tracks…

Each of these communities, though well intended, did extensive damage to their image as quaint (or even hip) downtown business districts. How? In each community the two co-op ads were done with businesses that weren’t retail. They weren’t the types of businesses one would do holiday shopping in. They advertised banks, oil change places, chiropractors, mechanics, heating repair places and other service industries. Now, I’m not saying communities shouldn’t be advertising for these types of places, especially if they’re in your downtown. What I’m saying is that if those are the types of businesses you have, your tag should be “Support local businesses, support your local economy,” or something to that effect. “Shop (community name) for the Holidays” indicates you have something to sell to people that they would want to give as a gift. That there is traditional retail there to support and “discover.” Asking people to shop in your downtown for the holidays and then showing them a bunch of businesses they can’t buy gifts in makes them think there is nothing in your downtown to support.

That’s an image that will last long after the holiday season.

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By Kelly Larson
Main Street Architect
Michigan Main Street Center
State Historic Preservation Office/Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries

With the holidays and the New Year just around the corner, everywhere you turn there seems to be some important and reputable media outlet reflecting on the past year. For example, Time magazine's "Person of the Year", the Today Show's "Top News Stories of 2008", and (MOST important of all) VH1's "Top 100 Videos of 2008".

So, since I’m equally as important and reputable, I thought I would do the same thing. I’m extremely lucky to be in a job where I get to experience the power of volunteers and the difference they make on a daily basis. Although this is certainly not a complete list, here a very few of the top “warm fuzzy” feelings I’ve had over the past year when in our Main Street communities:

5. Being asked “How could I become a Main Street Manager?” – I loved being a Main Street Manager. But because of that, I feel like I never adequately express what it’s like to have the job. Most of the time I feel as though I’m just rambling on and on and the listener is really thinking about going to the store and buying dog food. But every once in a while, I can tell I’ve captured someone’s attention. They get a little twinkle in their eye, they stand a little taller, and they ask, “How could I become a Main Street Manager?”

4. Finding a new “best meal ever!!!” – You know how you walk into a restaurant you’ve never been to before, the place is full, people are laughing, and you’re getting a good vibe but you question if the food can live up to the atmosphere. You order, the food comes, you take your first bite and suddenly the world stands still and you forget your own name. That happens to me a lot. From the steak chimichangas at Carmalita’s in Calumet, to the hot pastrami sandwich at Pastrami Joe’s in Marshall, to the breakfast sandwich at Goody’s Juice and Java in Manistee, to the wraps at the Kirby Grill in Grand Haven, to the black cherry pie at the Herrick House in Clare, to the chocolate candies at Veni’s Candies in Niles …..God I love this job!

3. Listening to a Main Street Manager the day after a big event – Okay, maybe not the day after a big event (a manager is probably staring at the wall, clutching a cup of coffee, and trying to remember why they feel like they’ve been run over). But a week after a big event, listening to a Main Street Manager talk about the event is always inspiring. They’re usually filled with stories of seeing bigger crowds than the downtown has seen in a long time, new volunteers helping and wanting to get involved on committees, some sort of catastrophe narrowly diverted, and realizing that all of their hard work has made a difference.

2. When the new Main Street volunteer becomes a Main Street Teacher – Laura and I have been all over the state talking about Main Street and providing training to volunteers about their roles and responsibilities, developing work plans, building local support, yada yada yada. We go blue in the face talking about this stuff. So you can imagine how my heart warmed when we were in Scottville providing committee training and a new Main Street volunteer asked a question. Before Laura and I could answer, several other volunteers (just as new to the program) started talking and explaining the answer. It was as if they were ol’ pros at this stuff. I must have felt how a parent feels the day their kid goes off to college. They grow up so fast!

And…

1. Hearing the winning song of the Boyne City Song Contest for the first time - Perhaps it was the beautiful mid-June weather, perhaps it was the smell of cut grass and the fresh breeze coming off Lake Charlevoix, or perhaps it was several hundred people gathered together in Old City Park to celebrate the 5th birthday of the Boyne City Main Street program….whatever it was, the moment was perfect. When Tom Monley walked up to the gazebo and played his song “America’s Home Town” for the first time, I think several hundred people got goose-bumps all at the same time. The song captured the place and the people perfectly. Talk about warm fuzzies!

I hope all of you have a very happy holiday!

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By Dace Koenigsknecht
Economic Restructuring Specialist
Michigan Main Street Center
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

As followers of this blog can discern, I managed to smooth talk myself into a highly desired position within the Michigan Main Street Center. (Editor's Note: It wasn't that smooth.) I’m honored and excited to come to work each day, but I intend not to belabor the wonderful introduction posted by Joe a few weeks past.

One point taken from that introductory post, however, will lead us into today’s topic; my recent presentation at a national historic preservation conference. I humbly describe the experience as both educational and inspiring, and feel that I have been bitten by the ‘lecture-circuit’ bug. My paper briefly traced the front sitting porch through architectural styles from roughly colonial times to World War II. After that, mass-market housing essentially eliminated the front porch, leaving social functions of the household to be held in the privately-fenced backyard. I presented an argument that porches merely reflected their times; from the height of social Victorian entertaining at home, to entertainment becoming a destination onto its own – opera and movie houses, or Sunday drives on the parkway. Front porches had lost their social status, as people no longer valued random street-side encounters. They carefully planned backyard barbecues and excursions to popular public venues.

Finally, to the lesson pertaining to downtowns; a brief history of streets. Research for my paper continues to take on new life, as I am increasingly intrigued by the connection of the front porch to its accompanying street. Historically, urban streets served as the lungs and parks of densely occupied districts, offering inlets for fresh air and open-space for children to chase dogs and hula-hoops. The wide streets, whether residential or commercial, enabled and encouraged social activity. Neighbors talked politics against the front gate, and merchants hawked their wares on storefront sidewalks. Streets were pedestrian-scale, roughly paved with cobblestone and wood. However, the horse would change all that.

That’s right, the horse and all its accumulated waste encouraged civil engineers to develop paving that could be cleaned easily – and affordably. Spurred by the economic and political force of the affluent, smooth pavements were pushed outward from city-centers to their suburban homes. Those with means to own the latest in transportation technology simultaneously utilized paved streets, and pushed for their expanded use. These smooth streets became busy arteries for wagons, carriages, bicycles, trolleys, and early automobiles. The streets were soon hazardous to pedestrians, becoming impediments to neighborly interaction and sidewalk sales. With loss of its street, the front sitting porch was relegated to storage of broken washing machines.

We come full circle, or do we? Current research and literature tout the advantages of pedestrian-scale streetscapes. I argue to look at the front porch as a symbol of loss, not of architecture, but rather the social aspects of neighbors and customers that fear the street – the Red Sea separating people and businesses. It is in hard economic times, such as now, that parting of the sea is required. For example, there is a movement in cities across the country to close streets on a regular schedule, like Sunday afternoons, to bring people outside and encourage them to interact – spontaneously – in person. Yes, cities all over close streets for special events, but this goes further by returning the function of the street to people. As these people congregate, they also buy, and such schedules have been successful for both residents and merchants alike.

By no means does my commentary imply a fix-all solution, but rather another view of history – those not willing to learn from it are doomed to repeat it. It is the desire of everyone associated with our towns and cities to see them thrive and flourish in this new global millennium. Our streets, our Main Streets, should be comfortable and profitable – acting as conduits not invisible walls. I look forward to this challenge and others in my new role, as our focus is clearly in our name: Michigan MAIN STREET Center.

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By Duane Thelen
Community Initiated Development Specialist
Michigan Main Street Center
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with a little background information about myself. First of all, I have worked in an economic development environment for 20 plus years. Most of my career I worked behind the scenes. Some time ago Joe Borgstrom called me in his office and asked if I would consider being assigned a territory consisting of 12 Michigan counties. Of course I accepted this challenge and was provided the opportunity of working face to face with the communities.

I recall one meeting when the City Manager was a few minutes late. When I saw this City Manager walking up to the city hall building carrying a snow shovel I asked jokingly “did the city place you on the snow removal crew’? He replied “Well we received a telephone call from an elderly lady who was upset because the city snow plow just blocked her driveway so I thought what the heck I’ll just shovel her driveway so she has a better day”. He also laughed and added “I sure hope she doesn’t have many sisters that live close by”.

I also attended meetings where I observed city staff that were stressed, emotional, and overwhelmed with the economic challenges that their community had dealt with over the past few years. I have never felt or witnessed first hand, this amount of passion and dedication for our Michigan communities. Needless to say what an opportunity and a privilege this job assignment has been for me.

I believe the best strength I bring to this job is my gift of listening. Each of us has or has had obstacles at work. Many of the meetings I have attended I learned was an agenda where staff needed to express concerns, worries and suggested improvements for the community. I am that someone who will listen and offer recommendations in an attempt to search for a solution.

Another one of my positive traits is my belief in trust. Be it in our personal lives, as well as in the workplace. Take it from me as I have been blessed with being a German Gemini. Does it get any worse than that? What this means is that people know who I am and what I believe in. I don’t believe in beating around the bush or talking in circles. I believe in letting people know what I’m thinking. Be it right or wrong, I like to give people the opportunity to let me know their feelings as well.

With my new challenge as the Community Initiated Development Specialist with the Michigan Main Street Center, I am looking forward to strengthening our partnerships, goals and our mission with Michigan Main Street Communities. Together we will make success happen!
Thank you and as always – keep a smile!

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By Joe Borgstrom, Director
Specialized Technical Assistance
& Revitalization Strategy Division
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Before I start this entry I want to state one thing: This is not about politics. I will not be commenting on the philosophical views of any party. What I will do is take a few minutes and point out some of the extraordinary things that I noticed the Obama campaign did that paid off with huge dividends in the election. Sure, there was a ton of money spent on advertising. Both parties did that. I submit to you that what he did better than Senator McCain was he had an army of young and energetic grassroots supporters that felt personally connected to him. The question comes down to “How did he do that?” Simply put, he spoke to them using their language: Technology.

I was struck last night watching coverage of the post-election celebration in Chicago on TV. The crowd of several hundred thousand was anxiously awaiting President-Elect Obama to make his first nationally televised speech since being declared the winner. Then, the venerable voice of Tom Brokaw cut in and said, “We just received this email that Senator Obama has just sent to his supporters:”

“I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don't want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you.

Thank you, Barack”

Wait a minute. Did the newly elected leader of the free world just drop an email to his supporters just before walking on stage? Can you imagine getting an email like that just before such a historic moment from the man who was about to make it? Not only that, he took the time to acknowledge and thank them for their role in making that moment in history happen. Wow.

I started recalling the stories about when Senator Biden was selected as his running mate and how the national media quoted the text message he sent to his supporters before it was officially announced. He let his supporters on the inside. Furthermore, he kept them there all by using technology. I must have had a dozen friends who “donated” their status messages on Facebook to get the vote out for him. Even the people who were gathered at Grant Park were issued event tickets by…what else? Email from the campaign.

What does all this have to do with your downtown? Well, as I soaked all of this in, I was reminded of the presentation given by the good folks at Team HALO, Marianna Hayes and Andy Chapman, during the Michigan Downtown Conference this past September. They talked about using all of these tools for your downtown and the businesses in them. You can engage and create your own army of young and energetic volunteers and customers if you connect them to “the inside” and make them feel special. You can do it effectively and efficiently…not to mention cheaply, by using technology. They pointed out the example of the Rochester Brewing Company, who on a cold, snowy and slow Tuesday night, text messaged his database of customers with a 2 for 1 beer special. A half hour later the place was packed. You can use it for your volunteers as well. Why not send out a quick email or text that the banners the Design Committee designed have just arrived. Don’t forget to thank them while you’re at it. Everyone appreciates an unexpected “Thank you” once in a while. That all builds a valuable personal connection to your downtown/business/cause.

You can do this. Whether you are a small town Main Street Manager, an independent retailer, or a non-profit, it can and will work for you. Just get on the technology bandwagon and hang on tight!

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