The second quarter of 2021 follows just the same as the first quarter: notably very busy AND very successful. Downtown businesses are reporting high sales days and foot traffic, Main Street events draw crowds larger than we’ve experienced in previous years, and our volunteers continue to work diligently with dedication toward the Main Street mission of downtown revitalization.
SNAPSHOT OF 2021 Q2 FINANCIAL POSITION
Revenue: $124,455.67
Bed Tax Contribution (included in Revenue): $6,175.14
Expenditures: $76,869.36
Net Operating Revenue: $47,586.31
COMMITTEE UPDATES
DESIGN
This Committee is exploring the costs to contract out maintenance of downtown bump-outs to ensure year-long beautification of these landscaping assets downtown. Additionally, the Committee is also considering opportunities to offer an “Adopt-A-Spot” beautification opportunity to the Marietta community in future years.
ECONOMIC VITALITY
This Committee produced and launched a Start-Up Guide for Downtown Businesses as well as an Economic Impact Survey we send to Main Street Partners after downtown events to capture data about revenue generation. EV is now working on a Design & Signage Guide and looking at strategies to collect annual data from downtown businesses and property owners to support our monthly reports to Heritage Ohio.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS
A Christmas in July Parade was planned, trees have been ordered for the Holiday Tree Walk, and we are excited to partner with the Marietta Noon Lions to expand decor in East Muskingum Park this holiday season. The 2021 Hometown Holidays calendar of events & programs is currently being finalized.
ORGANIZATION
The focus of this Committee has been to refine internal practices, including the development of an Employee Handbook. New national accreditation standards have been passed down from the National Main Street Center and we are working to ensure we can successfully meet these new standards.
PROMOTION
Preparing for summer events has kept this Committee quite busy. From expanded programming during First Friday events to the newly-launched Second Sunday events AND a successful Wine & Chocolate Walk, there’s no shortage of activity through Promotion.
PUBLIC ART
A new mural was installed uplifting the positive message “Rooted in Kindness, Good Things Grow Here” and, with the support of Mayor Schlicher, a grant has been submitted to the Ohio Arts Council to enhance the bike tunnel under the Putnam Street Bridge.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021 Q2 IMPACT
Our Flowers for Hope fundraising campaign was a huge success. 289 baskets were sponsored, which is about 70 more than we've ever had sponsored before. A total of $26,145 was raised in just one month, with $4,695 donated directly to our organization thanks to donors who added $25 to their basket sponsorships!
A Downtown Directory on our website is live. A few sections are still pending like Services but Dining, Entertainment, Lodging, and Shopping are active. Did you know we have 27 restaurants and 30 retailers in our commercial district?
The Cabin Fever Shop Hop was very well-attended. It was just as successful as the Fall Shop Hop which brought hundreds of shoppers downtown. Businesses said they were busy all day and processed a lot of sales.
Due to unspent funds from 2020 Build Up Marietta awards, we launched the 2021 Spring Spruce Up Grant to keep the unspent funds in our downtown. We awarded $4,708 to 5 downtown businesses, leveraging over $19k in building enhancements.
The Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) passed with a vote of 6-1 by Marietta City Council and kicked off during June First Friday. In the first month of DORA, over 4,750 DORA cups have been processed across 10 participating DORA Establishments. Thanks to the support of the City of Marietta and that of participating downtown businesses, participants in Marietta’s DORA have successfully raised a total of $1,808.99 in community reinvestment - or, an average of $.38 per cup
First Friday events in April, May, and June were extremely well-attended. Marietta’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) kicked off on June First Friday and nearly 1,000 DORA cups were sold!
We submitted support letters and project information to Heritage Ohio for the Paul Bruhn Revitalization Grant of the National Park Service. We stand to have $100,000 allocated to Marietta that we would award to downtown property owners for building rehabilitation, in partnership with Heritage Ohio. We submitted two projects for consideration, though those do not need to be the final projects for awarded funds.
Clean Sweep was held on Saturday, May 29th and we welcomed around 25+ volunteers to mulch garden beds on Front Street and tag lampposts.
The first phase of Bike Marietta is fully launched - all 50 bike racks have been installed and a new kiosk is installed behind the Armory with a map of City trails.
The first Second Sunday was held on Sunday, June 13th, sponsored by Dimex, and halfway through the sky opened up and a thunderstorm ended the event early. That being said, Dimex was happy to have about a dozen kiddos come through.
On June 28th, about a dozen Civic Fellows from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation came to Main Street to learn about our organization and to receive a tour of downtown.
Main Street Day was hosted on Saturday, June 12th and the Main Street Awards Ceremony was a lovely way to uplift local leaders who positively impact our organization and downtown. The winners were: 740 Social (Building Improvement Award), Pop-Up Mural Series (Outstanding Collaboration Award), Tim Bonnette (Volunteer of the Year - Individual Award), Deana Clark (Community Builder of the Year Award), Mayor Josh Schlicher (Overachiever of the Year Award), and Main Street West (Volunteer of the Year - Group).
The City of Marietta along with Pickering Associates hosted a series of 3 stakeholder meetings to discuss ideas and opportunities for the strategic development of Lock 1 Park (the green space outside & behind the Armory). Main Street was present in all three meetings.
If there are questions about the information provided in this 2021 Q2 Impact Report or about the events, programs, and initiatives of Marietta Main Street, please reach out to info@mariettamainstreet.org.
