Barry County residents will soon have a direct say in the future of downtown Hastings and downtown Nashville.
The Barry County Chamber & Economic Development Alliance has received USDA funding to bring Downtown Strategies' downtown planning service to both communities. The process kicks off with public visioning workshops in December, where downtown stakeholders, business owners and property owners can share what they love about their downtowns and what they want to see next. That input will shape a strategic plan with short-term and long-term steps each community can act on.
The grant also gives local business owners in Hastings and Nashville access to the Small Business Support platform, which offers training to help them grow.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant funding and bring downtown expertise to two of our communities in Barry County,” said Nichole Lyke, Economic Development Director for the Barry County Chamber & Economic Development Alliance.
“Strengthening our downtowns and supporting the small businesses that call them home are central to the Chamber’s goals for the county. This planning work gives Hastings and Nashville a clear roadmap for the future, and the Small Business Support platform gives our local entrepreneurs the training they need to grow. Investing in both is how we continue to support our local community and keep Barry County a great place to live, work and do business.”
“The downtown planning work that Hastings and Nashville will receive will set the wheels in motion for both communities,” said Sarah Beth Stewart, Vice President of Retail Strategies. “Each community will walk away with a plan that includes both short-term and long-term tactics they can execute, so they can start seeing progress right away while working toward a bigger vision for their downtowns.”
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About Downtown Strategies: Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, exists to provide realistic, implementable strategies to help communities revitalize their downtowns. Led by a team of former downtown revitalization practitioners and real estate experts, our combination of real-world experience and expertise in real estate and retail uniquely qualifies us to assist communities in backfilling vacancies, increasing tourism, and enhancing the sense of place in their downtowns. Serving rural communities in 27 states, Downtown Strategies is the leading national firm in downtown revitalization planning, with an emphasis on real estate and retail
About Retail Strategies: Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide the real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism and quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team, drawing on unmatched real estate and community development expertise. Our activities yield returns in sales taxes, additional jobs, and businesses that enhance the unique qualities of your community.
