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DBI NEWS
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Back to DBI News
January 21, 2008
Join Downtown’s
Rebirth
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The purple
and white DBI sticker on the door of Bryan
Automotive Parts carries a special
significance. Owner Tom Mikesell, right was
the first to sign up for a membership in the
young Downtown Bryan, Inc. organization. At
left is DBI Executive Director Mandy Hanna.
(Photo
courtesy of DBI.)
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By Don Allison
Times Senior Editor
Want to be a part of breathing new life into
downtown Bryan?
If so, just fill out your membership form.
Downtown Bryan, Inc. is conducting its
initial membership drive and is looking for
support from throughout the city – not just
downtown businesses.
DBI has a lot on its plate this year, says
DBI Executive Director Mandy Hanna,
including a number of downtown events and
promotions, and distribution of grant funds
to improve downtown buildings.
“This year, I’m really hoping that we see a
lot of major repair work downtown, to the
fronts of the buildings, thanks to this Tier
II grant,” said Jim Funderburg, DBI
president. Funderburg plans brick and mortar
repairs on the downtown structure he owns at
120 W. High St.
Efforts to construct a fountain or fountains
on the square will continue, he said.
“I think we have a number of nice social
events planned this year,” Funderburg said.
“It’s my hope that we see a lot more going
on downtown on the square, to bring people
in.”
Funderburg said many are people are getting
behind DBI’s effort. And, he said, “We can
always use more volunteers.”
In December, the state awarded the city of
Bryan a $400,000 Community Development Block
Grant Tier II Downtown Revitalization
Program award, to be matched dollar for
dollar by downtown business owners to
improve their buildings.
A total of 59 proposals were submitted by
Bryan businesses in the downtown district –
the area within Mulberry, Cherry, Portland,
and Wilson streets, plus an extended area at
North Main and Mulberry Streets. The Ohio
Department of Development estimates that 39
of those proposals will be funded.
Work on a required three-month environmental
review in conjunction with the grant
projects is beginning this month. It is
hoped work on the projects can begin in
April, Hanna said.
This work will go hand-in-hand with a
$688,103 grant awarded to the city in
September though the Ohio Department of
Transportation, for streetscape improvements
along Main, High, Lynn and Butler streets.
In the current DBI membership drive, annual
memberships are available at various levels
– a family and friends category at $25;
non-profit group at $50; business patrons at
$100, $150, and $200 based on employee
numbers; and corporate “friend of downtown”
at $500.
“We currently have 58 members, and are
looking to expand to at least 300,” Hanna
explained.
Membership is open to anyone, not just those
within the downtown district, Hanna said.
She noted memberships in any of the
“business” categories allow members a free
spot at events, such as Sidewalk Sales and
Fall Festival, so businesses outside the
downtown district may participate.
“As our events continue to grow, so will our
benefit package,” she said. “The biggest
benefit in contributing to Downtown Bryan,
Inc. is giving your family, friends and
neighbors a fun, safe place to congregate
and enjoy events and festivities.”
Hanna noted the membership drive helps
sponsor events such as Day in the Park, Fall
Fest, the Great Pumpkin Halloween events and
the Santa arrival parade.
“It also helps us to buy games that we put
out at events that families can play
together for free,” Hanna said. Those games
have included beanbag toss, croquet, Velcro
ball, volleyball and badminton.
Throwing its support to DBI is the Bryan
Development Corp. Tom Voigt of BDC, and now
a DBI board member, said Bryan Development
no longer solicits dues and encourages
Development Corp. members to direct its
membership money to DBI. Collection of the
former Bryan Development dues has been
extended to May, he said.
DBI funds will cover future Bryan
Development Corp. activities, said Voigt,
who also is general manager of The Bryan
Times.
Bryan Development activities in the past
have included downtown flags and banners,
tree and flower planting and trimming, and
other downtown beautification projects.
DBI membership applications are available at
the Bryan Area Chamber of Commerce office,
and from the DBI Web site at
www.downtownbryaninc.com .
don@bryantimes.com
Bryan Times Senior Editor |
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