The Aberdeen City Council is considering a funding request from the Aberdeen Revitalization Movement group to hire an executive director to head their efforts to make downtown Aberdeen a “Main Street” city which, if the designation is achieved, would offer downtown businesses tax credits and, according to Aberdeen Mayor Erik Larson, could bring cohesion to the efforts of several organizations trying to improve the downtown area.
The Main Street program requires a full time executive director be hired in order to be considered for Main Street designation. At a council meeting two weeks ago, Aberdeen Revitalization Movement Vice President Gary Jones asked the Aberdeen City Council for $55,800 to hire an executive director and operate the office through the end of the year. At Wednesday’s council meeting, Finance Committee Chairman Jeff Cook announced that Jones had told him he was working on a “thorough business plan and will come back to the Finance Committee in two months or so” with a more detailed proposal for funding.
Jones said he was working on the proposal and would have more to talk about in a few weeks. Larson said the council will continue discussions on the Main Street proposal in the meantime.
The Main Street program is facilitated by the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and has a tax credit incentive program that give businesses within the Main Street area that donate to the Main Street get a tax credit worth 75 percent of their contribution. But Larson said the benefits of Main Street designation go far beyond that.
“To me, the benefit of a designated Main Street program is really one of capacity building,” said Aberdeen Mayor Erik Larson in the days following the meeting. “We have an abundance of non-profits, organizations and businesses all working to revitalize the downtown corridor. The Main Street program would work to unite all of these efforts through providing guidance and funding opportunities, while ensuring a cohesive vision for development is being implemented.”
When Jones initially asked the council for funding for the effort, some council members were concerned the city would be stuck with the tab for the executive director and office expenses in the future. Jones said it was possible he would come back and ask for funding in the future, and is currently reworking the financial plan for the Main Street program.
“I do feel they do need to become a self-funding source on their own,” said Councilwoman Tawni Andrews. “I do think we should support them; my only concern is I don’t want us (the city) to be the primary source. We can’t afford that.”
Larson later told The Daily World, “I do support the city providing funding for a Main Street program, and I think the request for funding to pursue creating one is reasonable. I think there will need to be some timelines and deliverables attached to any funding provided by the city to ensure it is being spent wisely.”
The city passed an ordinance late last year stating their support for the Aberdeen Revitalization Movement and becoming a Main Street community.
Currently, Aberdeen is listed as a Main Street Affiliate Community and doesn’t get the tax breaks designated Main Street communities get. There are currently 33 Main Street communities in the state, including the Centralia Downtown Association, the Olympia Downtown Association and the Port Townsend Main Street Program.
There are benefits to the designation beyond tax incentives and organization, according to Breanne Durham, Washington Main Street Coordinator.
“Main Street Communities benefit from having access to the full range of services from the Washington State Main Street Program, including on-site technical assistance, quarterly leadership meetings/trainings, and being part of a robust network of other communities in Washington that are also utilizing the Main Street Approach,” she said.
There is no fee to apply for the designation, added Durham, though there are certain criteria – beside the hiring of an executive director – the city will need to meet when they turn in their application. For example:
- Be an independent nonprofit organization with the sole mission of revitalizing a traditional downtown commercial district.
- Have a clearly defined Main Street district focused on the historic commercial core.
- Have a comprehensive strategy, vision statement and promotional plan.
- Have in place an active volunteer board of directors, and at least four active committees: organization, promotion, design and economic vitality.
If the designation were granted, the Main Street district would be required to keep the State informed as to their progress, including quarterly reports, an annual orientation to board and committee members at least once a year, complete an annual survey, and above all, maintain a strong historic preservation ethic and consult with the state on historic preservation issues.
