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Downtown Action Committee

The Downtown Action Committee (DAC) is a standing committee of the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce. Any chamber member intersted in the vitality of the central business district is welcome to participate. Regular meetings are the first Thursday of the month at the third floor meeting room of the Buckham Memorial Library.

Next Meeting - March 29, 2007 8:00 am at the Chamber office

THE MISSION

The Downtown Action Committee (DAC) is organized to unify the central business district, with emphasis on Central Avenue, to create an attractive destination in which businesses prosper, the community benefits and residents and visitors enjoy a quality experience.

Plans for 2007 and beyond

  • Developing a Downtown Renaissance
  • Implementation phase of Mayor’s Taskforce Recommendations
  • Engaging the entire community in support of the downtown
  • Accepting responsibility
  • Working with other groups
    • Mural Project
    • Sellner “benches”
    • Creative Class
    • Promotion

Improve communication between downtown businesses

  • Downtown
  • Website
  • Blog
Help Property owners eliminate eyesores
  • Portfolio of problem areas
  • Recognize and highlight good examples
  • Work with city to target resources for greatest impact

Build a Downtown Database

    • Building owners
    • Business owners/key contacts
      • Hours of operation
      • Business details
    • Vacancies
    • Rental Properties

    Assist in Facilitating several downtown promotions annually

    • May Stroll
    • Rock Island Art Fair
    • Heritage Celebration Car Show
    • September Stroll
    • Holiday Open houses

    Add multi-level parking

    Organizational Development
    • Secure On-going funding
    • Support from other agencies
    • Increased awareness among downtown stakeholders
    • Address chamber membership issue

If all our dreams for downtown came true, what would it look like in five years?

  • Buildings restored to historic accuracy
  • Activities to support the historic character
  • Events to generate customer traffic
  • Known as a destination
  • All storefronts restored and occupied
  • Glass windows (no boarded window)
  • Two parking ramps (or)
  • One large parking ramp
  • Welcoming to bike traffic – racks and signs
  • River front development complete
  • River activities (tubing etc) available
  • Paradise Center in its full glory
  • Banners in use across streets and on building
  • Park development on River Front
  • Including playground area
  • Stronger Police Presence
  • Bike Patrol back to full strength
  • Better relationships with minority business owners
  • Paid position dedicated to Central Business District – downtown advocate
  • Improved housing above street level
  • Artist lofts, studios offices above retail
  • Condos
  • More cooperative city government – relative to downtown
  • Signage
  • Realistic approach to historic (OLD) building restoration
  • Cleaned up parking areas, backs of building looking inviting like courtyards not alleys
  • Space (conference center) to accommodate large groups
  • Better use of upper levels for housing and commercial
  • Fun promotions that increase traffic from residents and visitors
  • A place for youth to feel welcome and comfortable
  • Safe place
  • Unified group working for common good

Other ideas that came up in later discussions

  • Need for historic record, book, about Faribault’s history
  • Need positive stories about downtown businesses
  • Need more involvement from visitor generators
  • Need to promote community events in metro media
  • Consider a billboard to pull traffic from freeway to downtown