Rutland
posted
Nov 29, 2012
Designated Downtowns call on Vermonters to take the
50/50 Challenge
As downtown businesses across the state ready themselves for the
holiday shopping season, the Dept. of Economic, Housing and
Community Development (DEHCD) is pleased to announce the 50/50
Challenge, a call to Vermonters to support their community by doing
at least half their holiday gift buying with Vermont's local
retailers, artisans and craftspeople.
For every dollar spent downtown, more than 87 cents stays in the
local community, compared to only 38 cents from purchases with
national retailers. In 2011, Vermont downtowns were host to 200 new
jobs, 94 new businesses and 121 building renovation projects with
more than $17 million in private investments. Many of these local
downtown organizations do this form of economic development on a
shoe string budget, but Vermonters stand behind their communities
with more than economic support; downtowns were strengthened by
25,000 volunteer hours this year alone.
"Whether it is a vibrant city downtown or the classic Vermont
village with a country store, church, school, and just a handful of
businesses, Vermont's centers provide critical economic and
community contributions to the Green Mountain State's identity both
for the people who live here and for the nearly 14 million that
visit here annually," DEHCD Commissioner Noelle MacKay said.
Downtowns face the challenge or remaining vital community and
consumer hubs, in the face of malls and the Internet. Small, but
committed groups of people have formed local downtown organizations
such as Montpelier Alive, The Bristol Downtown Community
Partnership, Building a Better Brattleboro, and the Better
Bennington Corporation just to name a few.
The Vermont Downtown program was established in 1998 by the
Downtown Act. More than 500 volunteers work to produce events,
plant flowers, display holiday decorations, coordinate clean up
days, and develop marketing campaigns and future streetscape
planning.
The Vermont Downtown Program utilizes the Main Street Four Point
Approach® which is a consensus building program that fosters
community pride and encourages the growth of small businesses,
employment and income opportunities, tax revenues, property values
and general quality of life.
The 50/50 Challenge runs now through New Year's Day.
For more information
visit www.vermontvacation.com/5050.
