With the year drawing to a close, the Downtown Business Association turned its focus to plans for possible new events for 2015.
DBA President Cathy Shoun commended the downtown for progress that was made in the past year in the shopping district and asked the members to brainstorm for new events the DBA could showcase in the coming year.
Shoun presented the DBA with a list of possible ideas that had been developed by speaking with some of the business owners in downtown.
“These are just possibilities,” Shoun said. “We haven’t worked out all the details on these events, or if we could do them.”
One of the possible events was billed as “Arts on Elk.” Shoun said local artists would be invited to display their works of art at different businesses or in areas through downtown.
Another possibility focused on bringing entertainment to downtown through concerts or movies in the Covered Bridge Park.
Shoun also suggested a “Downtown Dining Week” where the different restaurants in downtown would be highlighted and promoted.
Customer appreciation sales, “moonlight markets”, ladies night out, spring sidewalk sales and non-profit support sales were other opportunities the DBA could promote.
“We need to be thinking of ways to promote our downtown and bring people into the area,” Shoun said.
Shoun said the downtown had taken many positive steps to promote the shopping district this year and improve the appearance of the shops.
“We have accomplished a lot this year, and every one has had such a positive attitude,” she said.
She listed the efforts to paint and refresh the building facades, the canopy and drainage repairs completed by the city and the recent steps to repaint and repair the lights and sign boxes under the canopies.
She also pointed out the new landscaping and Christmas tree in the triangle at the western entrance to East Elk Avenue.
“These things help all of our businesses,” she said. “It is exciting how everyone worked together to make this happen.”