About Richmond Main Street

Richmond Main Street Initiative 1000 Macdonald Avenue, Suite C Richmond, CA 94801 (510) 236-4049 www.richmondmainstreet.org

Table of Contents Introduction/Background The Main Street Approach Community Outreach Challenges Opportunities Questions? Contac Us

Introduction/Background

Staff and Board
Staff:
Amanda Elliott, Executive Director
Alicia Gallo, Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
Johnasies McGraw, Program and Development Consultant
Board of Directors:
Cynthia Haden, Board Chair
Xavier Abrams, Vice Chair/Treasurer
MariaAlegria, Secretary
Arnie Kasendorf, Past Board Chair
Michael Davenport
Jerrold Hatchett
Mary Lavergne
Charlene Smith
Janet L. Johnson, Ex-Officio
Gary Bell
Advisory Board :
James Goins
Joanne King

Who We Are
Richmond Main Street Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of historic downtown Richmond. We have formed partnerships with the City of Richmond, downtown merchants, and neighboring residents to implement a comprehensive, community-driven approach to developing and improving downtown Richmond. The target area is along Macdonald Avenue from 8th to 19th Streets between Bissell and Nevin Avenues.

Current & Past Funding Partners
City of Richmond Redevelopment Agency
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Chevron
Kaiser
Mechanics Bank
Wells Fargo
Richmond Community Foundation
Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation
Sims Metal Management
Richmond Sanitary Service
PG&E
Additional small sponsorships by local businesses including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, FoodsCo, GenX Clothing, Joanne’s Boutique, & DP Security.

The Main Street Approach

Richmond Main Street Mission and Goals
Mission
The Richmond Main Street Initiative (RMSI) is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing historic downtown Richmond as a pedestrian-friendly urban village, offering products, services, arts and entertainment that reflect the community’s rich and diverse heritage.
Goals
Evolve RMSI into a mature organization with a diversified funding stream, an established reputation in the community, and a consensus-driven collaboration with local stakeholders working towards downtown revitalization.

The Main Street Approach
RMSI is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that promotes a four point “Main Street Approach” to commercial district revitalization that is comprehensive and community-driven. Merchants, property owners, and residents become partners and take action on a wide variety of community issues.
DESIGN
Enhancing the physical appearance of downtown Richmond:
Facade and Streetscape Improvements
Street Banner Campaign
"Art In Windows" Displays
CLEAN AND SAFE
Enhancing the public safety and cleanliness of downtown:
Community Clean Ups
Neighborhood Ambassador Program
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) visits to downtown businesses

Main Street Approach cont’d
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Strengthening and broadening the economic base of downtown:
Fund Development
Summer Youth Entrepreneur Program
Small Business Assistance Workshops
Business Recruitment and Retention
PROMOTION
Marketing historic downtown and generating activities to attract residents,
merchants and the greater East Bay to downtown Richmond:
Music on the Main Summer Concert Series
Healthy Village Farm Stand
Spirit & Soul Festival and Fundraiser
Downtown Holiday Activities: Holiday Festival and Holiday Bazaar
Art In Windows Exhibitions and Receptions
Pop-Up shopping and dining experiences (coming soon!)

Community Outreach

Community Involvement
Engage community leaders, business owners, and city officials to mobilize resources and widen the circle of involvement. We will accomplish this through:
Annual Stakeholder Meetings
Community Meetings and Roundtable Discussions
Committees for Action: Economic Restructuring, Design, Clean and Safe, Promotions
Partnerships with Rubicon Programs, West County HEAL, The California Endowment Healthy Richmond, Downtown Task Force, Iron Triangle Neighborhood Council, and other community based organizations and agencies dedicated to improving the overall health and economic development of Richmond
Strengthen trust through strategic planning meetings and team building workshops with community stakeholders

2012 Projects
Implement the Downtown Richmond Business Improvement District
Art In Windows Exhibitions
11 th Annual Music on the Main Summer Concerts—4 th Wednesday of June, July & August
3 rd Annual Healthy Village Farm Stand—1 st Friday of May, June, July & August
5 th Annual Summer Youth Entrepreneur Program: a 4-week youth training collaborative with Richmond YouthWORKS (July-August)
Neighborhood Ambassador Program (ongoing)
4 th Annual Spirit & Soul Festival and Fundraiser
Holiday Festival: annual celebration for the children and their families of the Iron Triangle (December)
Holiday Bazaar, a unique shopping experience in the heart of downtown (December)
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon (Fall)
Business Assistance and Emerging Entrepreneur Program (ongoing)
Free Exercise Classes (ongoing)

Accomplishments
Increased the attendance at our events and programs over the years and leveraged funding from City bringing more than 20,000 people downtown.
Increased visibility and positive coverage of downtown through numerous media outlets including, the West County Times, Richmond Confidential, Richmond Post The Richmond Globe, The East Bay Express and KCBS, KCRT, KBLX, and KPFA.
Provided leadership opportunities, job-readiness and training to more than 40 low-income youth through our Summer Youth Entrepreneur Program .
Developed strong partnerships with downtown businesses, property owners, civic leaders and community.
Affiliation and member of the California Main Street Alliance, Historic Preservation Committee, West County Healthy Eating Active Living Collaborative, The California Endowment Healthy Richmond Steering Committee and Initiative and, the Economic Development Commission.

2011 Accomplishments In Pictures

Healthy Village Farm Stand 3 Farm Stands 200+ community members served 4 volunteers 12 hours donated Free produce, healthy snacks, pony rides, quality of life information

Music on the Main 3 concerts 800+ guests 30 volunteers, 85+ hours donated Top notch performances, 20+ vendors and info booths, free produce, activities for kids

Spirit & Soul 4 spectacular performances, 150+ guests, great food, excellent wine, 4 local entrepreneurs featured, 5 Downtown Champions honored, 37 volunteers, 180 hours donated… … all in the heart of downtown.

Summer Youth Entrepreneur Program and Small Business Assistance 9 Richmond youth, 2 weeks training, 80 paid work hours in local businesses 2 course series, 6 classes, 20+ entrepreneurs mentored

Volunteers and Community Support 1 community clean up, 1 park renovation, 10 events realized, 162 volunteers, 600+ hours donated

Neighborhood Ambassador Program 9 Neighborhood Ambassadors, 1000+ hours logged
86% of issues resolved:
577 graffiti tags removed
512 issues of litter resolved
46 issues of blight resolved

Art In Windows 4 artists featured, 2 vacant storefronts beautified 2 receptions, 1 art walk, 80+ guests

Holiday Festival 400 gifts distributed, 800+ goodie bags gifted 1000+ community members served Music, arts and crafts, Santa visits, holiday treats, lasting memories

Challenges

Challenges
Improve the image of downtown by reducing crime, violence and blight
Increase community support and engagement
Recruit new businesses downtown
Garner support form local businesses and stakeholders
Expand our funding streams to develop new programs, activities and services
Gain interest of large scale developers to help
develop downtown
RMSI conducted general surveys in 2011 of merchants and other area stakeholders. Through this process we learned that most people are concerned about crime, violence, and lack of jobs, especially for youth.

Action Plan to Address Challenges
Implement a Business Improvement District to support revitalization efforts and by providing special benefits including clean and safe programs, marketing promotions and other incentives to to businesses and property owners to encourage economic development.
Increase our visibility through marketing and social media outlets to draw the community to the downtown area.
Implement public and performing art projects involving community residents to celebrate the history of Richmond.
Encourage community at-large volunteerism.
Enhance the Community “Green” Space at the corner of Harbour Way and Macdonald Avenue for public use with on-going Health and Wellness community activities.

Opportunities

How You Can Help
Volunteer - Become a member of a Main Street committee, help out at events, become a Neighborhood Ambassador
Invest in Downtown – Make a tax deductible contribution and become a Friend of Main Street. Give a little, give a lot: Every bit helps revitalize downtown!
Collaborate – Become a member of our Board of Directors or one of our Committees and help RMSI to develop strategies to further the revitalization efforts to create projects for downtown Richmond.

Questions?

Contact Us Richmond Main Street Initiative 1000 Macdonald Avenue, Suite C Richmond, CA 94801 O: (510) 236-4049 F: (510) 236-4052 [email_address] www.richmondmainstreet.org

About Richmond Main Street

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