The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Chardon Tomorrow moving on to CDC
Organization shifting from Main Street accreditation to Community Development Corporation, adding events
Chardon Tomorrow is making a shift in 2020.
The 10-year-old nonprofit grassroots organization will transition from accredited Ohio Main Street program status to being an affiliate.
Instead, Chardon Tomorrow will pursue a Community Development Corporation model, a move made after several months of research and review, said Executive Director Mary Glauser.
“It’s essentially taking a step back from the full Main Street accreditation, which we felt — from a time and resource standpoint, both financially and human — was incredibly taxing on an organization of our size,” she said.
She noted that most accredited programs have full-time staffs and budgets of more than $90,000. Also, local ideas are surfacing.
“Chardon is the smallest community in the accredited program with only 5,000 residents and a part-time executive director,” she said. “For us, we really felt that we wanted to move beyond Main Street and be able to do some of the grassroots efforts, and things that we were doing on Main Street, to help all of the small and local businesses.”
Main Street foundation
Chardon Tomorrow became a member of the Main Street program in 2015. Heritage Ohio, which administers the program, is a comprehensive revitalization organization that promotes historic preservation and economic development of traditional business districts.
It requires an annual review, which is becoming more stringent, Glauser said. The cost involved in meeting the requirements, including training and attendance at various conferences, is $5,000.
There are currently 20 accredited Main Street programs in the state, while there are 300 CDC programs.
“It opens up a whole new set of resources as well as grant funding for us, so we’re able to secure different types of grant funding,” Glauser
said at a recent City Council meeting.
Councilwoman Nancy McArthur noted the large undertaking that was made to achieve accreditation and asked whether the effort had been worthwhile.
Both Glauser and Councilman Andrew K. Blackley, past-president of Chardon Tomorrow, emphasized the importance of the Main Street program.
“It literally provided the foundation for what we have today,” Blackley said. “So I think it was excellent at building up this basic organization and gave us a real solid start.
“The cost-effectiveness of being in Main Street, I don’t feel is there, and we wanted to spend the money that we’re given by the city, instead of having it go out of the city to an organization in Columbus, we’re going to invest that here in the community.”
The city contributes $15,000 annually to Chardon Tomorrow.
Blackley noted that the focus on historic preservation would still be paramount.
“We’re fortunate here that our historic district is actually in pretty good condition and has fairly decent occupancy rates,” he said.
The move from Main Street accreditation to affiliation is primarily about broadening the scope to benefit all local businesses in the city, Glauser said.
“We still feel the Main Street model is viable and important, which is why we’re maintaining affiliate status, but wanted to reallocate some resources to explore arts districting, public and green spaces, and in-fill in existing plazas and districts in the community,” she said.
Among Main Street programs that remain include First Fridays and the organization’s overall committee/ programming structure.
We Share
Part of the impetus to make the change came from feedback received via Chardon Tomorrow’s We Share program, in its third year.
The community forums allow people to share ideas and needs, with topics ranging from community-school connections and funding to “What would your best Chardon look like?”
Items that have emerged as important to residents and business owners included local business attraction, retention and sustainability.
Along with transitioning to a CDC, plans include adding new affinity groups — “We Share: Gen Yes” and “We Share: Bring the Boom.”
“It focuses on our generational differences and how their needs are going to be met, and what they want to see in Chardon,” said Chardon Tomorrow Community Development Associate Isabella Ziemak, who is assisting with the CDC transition.
A look back, ahead
Chardon Tomorrow’s achievements this year included a sold-out Brewfest and several other events, successfully completing the Ohio Chautauqua Tour, participating in Small Business Saturday, offering a new garage sale program, and providing consultation for 26 businesses.
“Those included everything from helping with business plans to design plans,” Glauser said. “We had reviews of leases, and then we did some meet-and-greets with people to show them different properties on the square and off the square.”
Things won’t slow down in the new year. Continued collaboration with other community organizations will
help launch an historic tour program, Savory & Sweet in the County Seat: A Taste of Chardon, a business incubator/visitor center, the Stop. Shop.Drop campaign and Homes of Distinction awards.
“This year is really the culmination of 10 years of review, engagement and planning, and positions Chardon Tomorrow for our next decade,” Glauser said.