By Staff
NILES - Community residents and business people will have a chance to discuss possibilities for Niles downtown business development and marketing initiatives at an open invitation Town Meeting and Workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the Bell Center, upper level, corner of corner of Third and Sycamore (entrance off the Fourth Street parking lot) from 6 to 8 p.m.
The town meeting and workshop is a community-wide forum being staged to kick-off the Downtown Niles Market Study project. Downtown Professionals Network (DPN), a consulting firm based in the Chicago area, was retained by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to facilitate the study for Niles and to provide recommendations for downtown business development and marketing strategies. Jay Schlinsog, DPN President, said the study will include an in-depth analysis of input collected from local business and consumer surveys scheduled for distribution in the near future.
Schlinsog said the town meeting and workshop is being conducted as part of the project's initial "discovery" phase that include the collection and review of additional background information and an assessment of the downtown business climate. During the first site visit scheduled for Feb. 15 and 16, the DPN consulting team will also perform a series of field exercises and conduct interviews with downtown business leaders.
Special components of the study, scheduled for completion this summer, include an assessment of opportunities for business expansion and recruitment in the downtown business district and recommendations for the implementation of related projects and activities.
Schlinsog said workshop exercises at the Feb. 16 town meeting will encourage participants to share thoughts and ideas that will set the tone for local research activities and the development of strategies and recommendations to guide Niles downtown business development initiatives.
For more information about the Feb. 16 town meeting and workshop contact the Niles DDA Main Street office at (269) 687-4332.