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NEWS FROM DOWNTOWN CHIPLEY
Chipley Merchants Looking At
Plans To Revitalize Downtown
Area
Chipley merchants are
working with Chamber of
Commerce representative Gary
Clark to develop a strategic
plan to revitalize the
downtown business district.
Clark is Vice President of
Member Services with West
Florida Electric
Cooperative.
June 5th merchants met with
Clark for a second time this
week in an effort to develop
a list of strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities
and threats facing the local
merchants. Listing the
strengths (what gives a
competitive advantage to the
businesses), during their
first meeting the group
included the history of the
community, easy access to
stores and businesses,
friendliness of the
residents, traffic flow
(13,000 vehicles a day), the
Chipley Redevelopment
Agency, the festivals and
events, the Christmas
lights, and the safe
environment.
Looking at the weaknesses
facing the local businesses,
those at the meeting listed
parking issues, signage,
lack of retail stores, lack
of downtown restaurants,
need for businesses that
generate traffic, lack of
lighted store fronts at
night, hours of operation
and lack of marketing.
Under the heading of
opportunities, the list
included CRA funding,
establishing Chipley as an
excursion market, web site
promotion, the Vance
Theatre, the old Chipley
High School auditorium and
development of customer
appreciation days.
Those attending the second
workshop listed the
following threats facing
local businesses: the
proposed toll road, the
economy, the fact that
buildings are in disrepair
and unconcerned building
owners, the four laning of
Hwy 77, expansion around
I-10, strip malls, not
enough retail stores,
parking and the apathy of
some business owners.
Developing a vision
statement, the merchants
boiled it down to .... "The
historically preserved
downtown Chipley area is an
attractive, prosperous,
diverse community of
businesses and individuals
committed to preserving
our
heritage,
our
community and
our
economic prosperity."
There mission statement said
the merchants are "A network
of established merchants
seeking to revitalize,
energize and grow the
economy of downtown
Chipley."
Developing a list of Short
Term Objectives to be
carried out by the group
over the next 10 months, the
business people included:
* Clean Up and Beautify
* Develop a communication
plan for all downtown
business owners
* Identify the types of
businesses they would like
the Chamber of Commerce to
recruit.
* Formalize a recruiting
plan.
* Solicit CRA participation
(through facade grants)
* Improve parking and
signage
* Improve storefront
lighting
Considering Long Term
Objectives (to be
accomplished over the next
three years), the business
people included the
following:
* Develop night time
traffic downtown
* Upgrade existing property
(bring it up to code).
* Develop the Farmer's
Market into full time draw.
* Organize regular downtown
activities.
* Develop recreation
activities in conjunction
with the YMCA.
* Develop the Vance
Theatre.
* Develop a comprehensive
marketing plan.
* Develop a focus group
* Develop a secret shopper
plan
* Address parking needs.
During the June 5th meeting
the business people also
discussed the possibility of
coming under the umbrella of
the Washington County
Chamber of Commerce as a
committee of that group.
Those at the meeting saw a
close alliance with the
Chamber as being beneficial
to the business people as
the Chamber would offer
secretarial and financial
assistance to the group.
Further discussion of that
possibility will be taken up
at the Merchants June 10
meeting.
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