Muskegon Main Street program hopes to boost memberships
MUSKEGON -- Leaders of the Muskegon Main Street program have given up on the idea of a special tax on downtown property owners as a way of sustaining the economic development and promotional organization.
Instead of asking the city of Muskegon to create a Principal Shopping District for the downtown area that would have imposed a special assessment on property owners, the nonprofit corporation will conduct an aggressive membership drive beginning in October.
When first proposed earlier this year, the tax idea -- which could have generated $135,000 from downtown properties -- was coolly received by downtown businesses.
"We did the work to see if there was support for it," said Main Street Manager Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, at the group's annual meeting Thursday. "After meetings and surveys, we decided not to pursue the Principal Shopping District assessments."
Main Street aims to make the downtown more viable by working with merchants and property owners. Its activities range from special events to marketing vacant properties.
The organization faces significant cutbacks in support from the city of Muskegon and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County in the next fiscal year. Major supporters from past years are looking for the organization to become more self-sustaining.
Organization supporters hope to continue the downtown agency by boosting revenue from memberships from $4,400 this past year to more than $30,000 for the 2010 fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Main Street has an overall 2010 budget of $169,000, including the organization's downtown events, but general annual operating expenses are about $75,000, Rinsema-Sybenga said.
Main Street staff and board members will launch the new membership program during October. Member levels range from $2,500 annually for major business sponsors to as low as $135 for basic members.
"Now is the time for the downtown businesses to step up to the plate," said Brenda Moore, a Main Street board member and owner of Clay Avenue Cellars. "It's time for all of us to pay our fair share."
Muskegon's planning and economic development director, Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, said the proposed $5,000 cut in direct city support is due to the budget crisis at City Hall. She suggested that federal Community Development Block Grant funds might generate new money for the organization later in 2010. She also said the city would consider paying Main Street if the organization took over maintenance of West Western Avenue landscaping.
