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<br />SUMMARY OF RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES <br />EDA STRATEGIC PLAN 41 <br />11. DOWNTOWN QUALITY OF LIFE <br />Development and development planning for downtown Elk River was discussed above. <br />This section recognizes the importance of the multiple strategies associated with <br />activating and enlivening downtown. That encompasses strategies such as marketing, <br />branding and communications, facade improvements and streetscaping, and event <br />programming. The property owners and businesses in a storefront business district <br />often provides leadership for these kinds of activity, and research shows that the <br />organizational energy and capacity of that business group makes a pivotal difference in <br />how effectively the district is branded and activated. <br />Programs of this kind can be affiliated <br />with an umbrella organization and <br />structure, such as the National Main <br />Streets program. Or they can be <br />independent, drawing ideas from any <br />number of examples, and from their <br />own inspiration. <br />Downtown Elk River has done very well. <br />With support from the City and local <br />businesses it has remained attractive, <br />has built a beautiful public space at its <br />heart that connects to the river, and <br />hosts numerous festivals and events. <br />In our focus group and other <br />conversations we learned that the <br />businesses vary in terms of the <br />sufficiency of their customer support, <br />and some of the older buildings are due <br />for significant rehabilitation if they are to <br />continue to be viable into the future. <br />We recommend consideration of <br />creating a downtown special service <br />district. Downtown Elk River is certainly <br />significant enough to warrant one. From the City perspective that would add an <br />organized partner and downtown advocate that is focused entirely on downtown Elk <br />River. From the perspective of the business community, it is a form of self-organizing <br />that gives the business community a clear voice and greater ability to weigh in on the <br />investments and activities they feel are most beneficial to downtown. It also ensures <br />that the contributions of the business community to district enhancements, marketing <br />and events are shared more equally. The levy level can be proposed by the business <br />community itself at a level that will result in majority support for the levy.