Dear City Council,
Can the City afford to give nearly $300,000 to a newly formed business membership organization with no record of accomplishment? No. Please vote no at the 9/15 Workshop.
I recently had a lengthy conversation with the Director of Main Street Oregon, Sheri Stuart, and her assistant, Cam Amabile. No Oregon city has a full-time paid Director devoted solely to a Main Street program. Yet Main Street Grants Pass wants you to believe that the only way they can get their business membership off the ground is for the City Council to gift them nearly $300,000 over three years for a full-time Director.
Ms. Stuart, Director of Main Street Oregon, said that the keys to a successful Main Street program are:
- Incredible people on the Board who want to put in the time to grow the organization.
- A plan developed through a robust strategic planning process with community partners who help shape the vision and act on it.
- Membership that is built over time with business and community partners.
Grants Pass already has numerous organizations, committees, and individuals working on the same initiatives that Main Street Grants Pass described in their proposal. Existing entities include the Chamber of Commerce, Visit Grants Pass, Tourism Advisory Committee, Stay & Savor–GP Sustainability Grant, Community Development, Economic Development, Urban Area Planning Commission, Business Retention & Expansion Committee, Historic Buildings & Sites Commission, Bikeways & Walkways Committee, Committee on Public Art, Small Business Development Center (RCC), City Parks Advisory Committee, Rotary, Active Club, Rogue Valley Classic Cruisers, Southern Oregon Trail Alliance, Four Way Community Foundation, Kiwanis International, and several religious-based groups that continually clean and beautify the City.
Several Oregon cities have a paid, part-time staff member for their Main Street program, housed within city government. I spoke with several cities; some fund Main Street activities through dues and private donations. Main Street Grants Pass has several Board members who could collectively fund a part-time Director for one year. They could then return to City Council with a proven track record of success in both building membership and creating innovative programs and initiatives.
My notes from researching this potential gift to a fledgling group are much longer, but I appreciate that you are all remarkably busy. I ask that you act prudently on behalf of the taxpayers, vote no, and revisit the request in a year.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Toni Webb
Grants Pass