MAIN STREET MATTERS

Riverside Middle School and Main Street work on improving downtown streetscape.

The Watertown Main Street Program and Mrs. Milburn’s class at Riverside Middle School are proposing the purchase of:

8 trash containers and 4 combination trash and recycling containers (20 gallon size)

12 benches

The benches and trash receptacles will be black wrought iron with a powder coating to make them low maintenance. They will match the lamp posts that are in place on Main Street.

The combination trash/recycling container liners will be blue and clearly marked for recycling.

The benches and trash receptacles will be located along Main Street between Washington Street and Seventh Street.

The total cost of the project is approximately $25,000.

The Watertown Main Street Design committee plans to pay for the project with grant money. Several foundations have been identified that may help with funding. The Middle School students are contributing to this project by selling fluorescent light bulbs and canvas shopping bags. They have raised over $800.

Are you a STAR Retailer?

According to Margie Johnson, owner of Shop Talk, a star retailer has the following characteristics:
• They embrace change and innovation
• They listen to their customers
• The are accessible by phone and email
• They have a well branded, consistent image
• Their place of business looks fresh and inviting
• They have a well trained staff
• The embrace technology
• They market their business aggressively

For more information on business solutions and strategies, visit Margie’s website, www.shoptalk.org.

STRAIGHT FROM THE STATE

According to JD Milburn, Small Business Specialist with the Bureau of Downtown Development, Watertown had over $3,000,000 in building rehab investment in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.

Governor Jim Doyle provided $225,000 for the “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin” program in the 2007-2009 state budget. The program supports local efforts to keep high-quality local food in Wisconsin communities to provide fresh food to families, to support farmers and grow the state economy. You may search for local food sources online at: www.SavorWisconsin.com.

“Building on the Basics” is the historic preservation conference that brings together national speakers and leaders of Wisconsin’s historic communities to share their expertise facing local history and preservation advocates. The conference is scheduled for September 26-27 at the Radisson Hotel, 517 Grand Canyon Drive in Madison, WI. A complete agenda and registration material are available on the Wisconsin Historical Society website, www.wisconsinhistory.org. Registration deadline is September 10.