Dear Property Owners, Business Owners and Brattleboro Residents,
Welcome to Spring! It has been a pleasure to serve as your Downtown Coordinator with Building a Better Brattleboro (BaBB) over the past few months. Since wrapping up the holiday season, we have made strides in re-examining the focus, culture and brand of the organization, as well as to reflect upon the realities of the shifting landscape we live in.
Now that the organization has achieved many of our near-term in-house goals, I truly look forward to spending more face time with you and all of the folk who make this great place tick. Although we have plenty of reason for celebration (care to Stroll, anyone?), the overarching narrative for many individuals and businesses I’ve spoken with downtown, unfortunately, is that recent financial times have been really tough.
So, as we thaw ourselves from the winter of 2014, we’re at a crossroads ~ change is in the air ~ a shift is happening. Yes, if we go back far enough, much has been modified in Brattleboro: gone are the logs in the River, the paper and textile mills, the organ factory, Island Park, Woolworth’s, nickel sodas, and the street trolleys. This is not then; the “big” changes I refer too weren’t a century in the making ~ what we face today is very recent.
When BaBB was founded in 1998, President Clinton was presiding over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history, with budget surpluses of $69 billion in ’98, $126 billion in ’99, and $236 billion in 2000. The middle class was growing, consumer spending was on the rise, markets were inflating, employment was up, energy was cheap and there was faith in the system. The role of the Downtown Organization was to make sure events and festivities were had, storefronts looked attractive, and the destination was well promoted; all was good on the local and national horizon.
It’s a bit different today. We’re now feeling the crippling effects of shuddered industries, job migration, and taxpayer bailouts of Wall Street and the U.S. financial system, while growing unemployment erodes the fabric of our community. Furthermore, while we’ve been fighting ongoing wars that build global tensions and grow trillions of dollars of debt, “Climate Change”, “Energy Independence” and “Food Security” have become common household terms as we recover from the latest mega-storm, scramble for new energy sources, and try our best to recuperate from ever-increasing environmental catastrophes.
Although centrally located in the Northeast, surrounded by a bucolic landscape, and known as a cultural hotbed, vibrant downtown, and year-around tourism destination, Brattleboro has been struggling through sluggish economic times; stagnant population; aging demographics; outdated infrastructure; and a growing concern over drugs and street violence; all wrapped up in an unenviable budget predicament that may trim services.
How do we turn it around? If we wish to make lasting decisions, to kick-start the local economy and make bold strides to increase our overall quality of life, let’s embrace this moment and address our shared obstacles and opportunities with a holistic mindset and ask ourselves how we can and make delightful lemonade from a few batches of sour lemons; no?
In order to achieve wellbeing, and develop community wealth and prosperity, therefore, it is imperative that we have faith in one another and welcome the sharing of all ideas, concerns and beliefs. Together with the multitude of tools and resources we enjoy today, our collective capacity for problem solving will undoubtedly produce amazing results by acting on things we all agree need investment.
Although much is to be done, steady improvement is the objective and developing our Downtown into a vital hub is a forever endeavor. And regardless of dire news from beyond, Brattleboro has the capacity to sustain itself and its guests and residents – let’s explore how. While honoring the rich history of traditions, innovation, productivity, and self-determination of this celebrated (and exceedingly authentic) community, it is ultimately our charge to help motivate a united effort that attracts ideas, resources and broad-based support for efforts that work to preserve and further enhance our cherished town center.
To help us achieve the goals we set together, I suggest we begin the process by taking a good look in the mirror. I truly believe that in order to arrive at a common destination, we must first accept the role of the guides and welcome accountability. By first pausing to reflect on our greatest attributes, as well as our most unsavory elements, we can see clearly who and what we are and (hopefully) agree on subtle and profound improvements we’d like to make.
Lead by the National Main Street Center, Vermont’s Downtown Program, the Town of Brattleboro, and an independent Board of Directors, the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance (formerly BaBB*) gives members, partners and local stakeholders a professional vehicle and voice to express a clear vision for downtown; to feel a shared sense of mission; and to help craft a well-defined budget and work plan designed for long-term success.
Before establishing concrete objectives and crafting a strategic plan, let’s take stock in our current state and begin to co-envision a bright and healthy future without fear of discord or delay. It takes a village to revitalize a Town!
Let’s keep the ball rolling – hope to see you on Wednesday the 21st!
DOWNTOWN VISIONING SESSIONS & CALL TO ACTION!
WEDNESDAY MAY 21ST 2014
8:30 am at The Works on Main Street – (a focus on Merchants & Property Owners)
5:15 pm at Flat Street Pub – (a focus on Citizen Involvement)
Jake
Jacob Alan Roberts
coordinator@brattleboro.com
Building a Better Brattleboro
103 Main St. Brattleboro, VT.
