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MAIN STREET
Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 2
MAIN STREET Mission Statement
The mission of Newton Main Street is to preserve the history, invest in the future and to develop pride in our downtown district through community involvement, volunteerism and private-public partnerships within the Main Street district, the heart of Newton.
Welcome to The Hub............................ page 3
Board of Directors
2014 Year in Review............................. page 4
Graham Sullivan – President
Index Shop Small Recap................................ page 5
(Store for Homes, Newton Community Education Foundation)
Kathy Winn – Vice President
Volunteer of the Year............................ page 7
Tracy Taylor – Treasurer
Farmers’ Market Returns...................... page 7
Danielle Rogers – Secretary
New Bakeries Open.............................. page 8
Lin Chapé – Economic Restructuring committee member
Architect Assistance.............................. page 9
Bruce Showalter – Organization committee chair
Main Street Market Analysis............... page 10
(In Remembrance) (First State Bank)
(Vernon Company, Young Professionals of Jasper County) (City Council, City of Newton) (REMAX Real Estate)
1st Ave. Sculpture Project....................page 11
Sue Nolin
(Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce)
Rita Reinheimer – Design committee chair (Historic Preservation Commission, City of Newton)
Pat Wallace – Economic Restructuring committee member (Wallace Family Funeral Home)
Jeff Maki – Promotion committee chair (Downtown Newton SSMID, Clemon-Maki Insurance)
Mike Jacobsen (Jasper County Attorney)
Program Director – Andrew Bassman
How to volunteer:
Newton Main Street is a volunteer-driven organization. Volunteers compose our entire Board of Directors and the four Main Street committees, and are responsible for planning, organizing and completing all of Main Street’s downtown revitalization activities and projects. Needless to say, with so much going on, we are always looking for more volunteers, of all ages and with broad representation of the community. To become a Main Street volunteer, please go to the following link on our website, complete and return the form: www.newtoniamainstreet.com/get-involved/
photo submitted
Left to right, Bottom row: Danielle Rogers, Pat Wallace, Dianna Ambroson, Rita Reinheimer. Left to right, Top row: Bruce Showalter, Tracy Taylor, Director Andrew Bassman and Jeff Maki. Not Pictured: Board President Graham Sullivan, Vice President Kathy Winn, Mike Jacobsen and Lin Chapé.
How to donate:
Donations from individuals, businesses and civic entities make up Newton Main Street’s entire budget, funding our activities and program administration. We could not do what we do without the financial support from the community. To become a Main Street donor, please go to the following link on our website, complete and return the form: www.newtoniamainstreet.com/get-involved/donate/
Contact Information:
Phone: 641-792-5545 Email: newtonmainstreet@gmail.com
Mailing address: Newton Main Street 113 1st Ave. W. Newton, Iowa 50208 Web: newtoniamainstreet.com
FB: www.facebook.com/NewtonMainStreet
Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 3
Welcome to The Hub Dear reader, Welcome to the first issue of the Main Street Hub, Newton Main Street’s quarterly newsletter. The Hub, a trial partnership between the Newton Daily News and Newton Main Street, will be inserted into the Daily News and will feature current information on Newton Main Street projects and activities, happenings in the Main Street District and more. We decided to call it The Hub for a few reasons. First, the newsletter will serve, along with our website (newtoniamainstreet.com), as the hub of Newton Main Street’s communication with the public. Second, Newton Main Street strives to be a hub of communication for various Newton Main Street District stakeholders, civic entities and the community. Third, given Newton Main Street District’s central location and function as the prime place to do business, shop and socialize, its traditional role has been and continues to be the hub of community life. We partnered with the Newton Daily News for a few reasons. First and foremost, the Newton Daily News has been a fantastic supporter of Newton Main Street from the start. Second, allowing the Newton Daily News to sell advertising space in the newsletter covers Newton Main Street’s cost of printing a newsletter, and holding down expenses is always a plus for a young nonprofit organization. Third, by inserting The Hub into the regular edition of the Newton Daily News, we have access to the community-wide circulation of the newspaper, which is critical. The health and vibrancy of Newton Main Street District is important to all of Newton’s residents, not just Main Street District residents, building and business owners. A thriving downtown means an improved quality of life for the whole community. As a result, we want and need to do our best to inform and engage the entire community about what we are up to and why. But effective communication is a two-way street. If you have any questions or comments about what you read in The Hub, what you would like to see in The Hub, about what Newton Main Street does, want to get involved or have an idea for a project or activity that could make downtown an even better place, please do not hesitate to contact us. We want to hear from you! Thanks for reading. Respectfully, Andrew J. Bassman Executive Director, Newton Main Street
Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 4
2014: Year in Review Newton Main Street had an excellent year in 2014! Community support has been and will continue to be critical to our success, especially as we transition in 2015 from building our program from scratch to getting results. In fact, the Newton Main Street District has already started ww to make progress—since the program began in February 2014, Main Street District businesses have added 20 net new full-time jobs, building owners have invested $58,180 in nine building improvement projects, and our volunteers have donated 1,806 hours of their time to Newton Main Street activities. We have taken great care to lay the groundwork for long-term success. Our approach even earned recognition from Main Street Iowa in the fall issue of its quarterly newsletter:
We anticipate another great year ahead. Projects we will be working on include: partnering with the City of Newton to create a building façade improvement grant, working with consultants to conduct a market analysis for the Main Street District, planning new events (including returning the farmers’ market to the Main Street District) and more. While we are making progress, Main Street District revitalization is an incremental and lengthy process. That is why the community’s ongoing support is so important. We could not do what we do without you. Sincerely, Graham Sullivan Board President, Newton Main Street
"Leadership with Newton Main Street has worked diligently to define the local effort through consistent public relations strategies and relationship building in the downtown district and community. They continue a methodical approach to building a strong foundation for a sustainable program.” Indeed, we have accomplished quite a bit in 2014. Here are a few examples: • We have filed, due to our organizational strength, to become a stand-alone 501(c)(3) earlier than expected • We arranged for design consultations between Main Street Iowa architects and seven building owners to plan future building improvement projects, and assisted building owners with applying for grants and tax credits • We organized the "Shop Small" Holiday Retail Promotion to celebrate Small Business Saturday • We partnered with the Centre for Arts and Artists to hold a pop-up art show, more than not over 20 local artists who reported selling items ranging from $7 to $850, in the vacant former Pappy’s location • We held the Magnetic Main Street fundraiser, (picture on right), with 251 prize package donations from Newton businesses photo submitted
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Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 5
‘Shop Small’, big success In November and December, Newton Main Street partnered with 24 Main Street District businesses and the Centre for Arts and Artists to organize the “Shop Small” holiday retail promotion. “Shop Small” featured cash coupons from participating retailers and a pop-up art show and sale hosted by the Centre for Arts and Artists. The promotion was designed to celebrate Small Business Saturday, which encourages people to support small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Customers received cash coupons from retailers (including restaurants) for purchases made between Nov. 27 and Dec. 7, and could redeem the coupons at the same store between Dec. 8 and Dec. 24. A follow-up survey, completed by 19 of the participating stores, indicated that 84 percent of the surveyed participants benefitted from the event by either increased sales or increased visibility, or both. “We had the best Small Business Saturday we’ve ever had,” Jim Beckman, owner of Beckman Gallery, said. “It generated a lot of return customers and was really a feel good promotion. We had a very positive response from customers.”
photo submitted
Visitors shop, socialize and work on crafts at the Newton Main Street and Centre for Arts and Artists “Shop Small” Pop-Up Art Show at the former Pappy’s Antique Mall (103 1st Ave. W.) on Nov. 29, 2014.
“I was thrilled with the promotion,” Bonnie Terpstra, owner of the Farmer’s Wife, said. “They (the Newton Main Street Promotions committee) did all the work for us—went to all the businesses to ask if we wanted to participate, provided the advertising, marketing materials and coupons. I had a quite a bit of repeat traffic from customers who came back to use the coupons.” Retailers had two options for coupons: for every $25 spent, a customer received a $5 cash coupon, or for every $10 spent, a customer received a $1 cash coupon. Retailers were able to place additional restrictions on use of the coupons. The art show was initially planned as a one-day event, on Nov. 29, at the former Pappy’s Antique Mall (103 1st Ave. W.). But artists had such success at the first event, a second art show was held at the same location on Dec. 6. At the art show, more over 20 artists displayed their work and had items for sale. The art show had a children’s activity, and baked goods from Stacy’s Sweetstuff for sale. Artists recorded sales ranging from $7 to $850 during the two shows. “Jasper County artists appreciated the opportunity to sell their creations to the public while also reconnecting with other artists during the art show,” Centre for Arts and Artists Executive Director Linda Klepinger said. “Centre for Arts and Artists was pleased to bring an additional dimension and vitality to Newton's downtown area.”
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Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 6
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Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 7
Rita Reinheimer Newton Main Street’s Volunteer of the Year
Farmers’ Market approved to return to the Main Street District
Rita Reinheimer’s passion for downtown’s historic buildings started as a kid—visiting her father’s downtown medical practice. Her enthusiasm, and service as Newton Main Street Design committee chair and board member (she is the City of Newton’s representative from the Historic Preservation Commission), have established her as a leader in the effort to grow Newton’s historic preservation ethic.
The farmers’ market was approved to move back to downtown by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors, Feb. 3. Andrew Bassman, executive director of Newton Main Street, presented the request to the board and explained the benefits it would bring to downtown.
By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Originally printed on Feb. 4, 2015
In January, a subcommittee selected Reinheimer as Newton Main Street’s Volunteer of the Year. Reinheimer’s service will be formally recognized at the Main Street Iowa Awards on May 1 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Reinheimer was instrumental in downtown’s designation as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places (she spent more than 1,000 volunteer hours on work that eventually led to the designation), bringing the Main Street program to Newton and setting up the Main Street program for long-term success. Reinheimer has worked indefatigably on Design committee projects, often helped other Main Street committees with activities, has consistently contributed the most hours of any Main Street volunteer each month, and can always be counted on when needed. If you see Rita, please make sure to say congratulations, and thank her for her service.
“I’ve talked to all of the photo by Jamee A. Pierson business owners on the Andrew Bassman executive director of Newton north and west sides of Main Street was approved to move the farmers’ the square. There is one market back to downtown at the Jasper County (store) at the end that the Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 3. owners are not there, so I haven’t talked to them yet. But everyone is on board,” Bassman said. The farmers’ market would use the north and west side of the courthouse square lawn from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays from June 2 to Sept 29. Last year, the market had 11 full-time and six part-time vendors and Bassman hopes to retain the majority, if not all, of those vendors. Also, it was requested to block off the parking spaces on the north half of the west side of the square and the west half of the north side of the square (approximately 20 parking spaces) for the pedestrian-oriented event. After talking to the local businesses, only one had a potential conflict ensuring delivery driver can get in and out, and Bassman is working to accommodate its needs.
photo submitted
Rita Reinheimer, right, talks with Main Street Iowa Design Specialist Tim Reinders & fellow Design committee member Sue Pickett in Spring 2014. Reinheimer was selected as Newton Main Street’s Volunteer of the Year.
Bassman believes that the farmers’ market will benefit from the increased visibility of the courthouse square, with the average daily traffic count along First Avenue West through downtown at nearly 10,000 vehicles per day Bassman said. He also said that he believes the downtown and downtown businesses will benefit from the market on the square, bringing more people downtown, promoting downtown as a gathering place and increasing exposure to downtown businesses. “I think it is a far better location to have it then where they have had it in the past — more accessible to everyone,” Supervisor Denny Carpenter said.
Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 8
New Bakeries Open in the Main Street District Adding a bakery downtown has been high on Newton Main Street’s wish list for new businesses. Now, within two weeks of each other, two bakeries—Stacy’s Sweetstuff and Bun in the Oven—have opened for business in the Main Street District. Stacy’s Sweetstuff, located at 208 ½ 1st Ave. W., opened on Feb. 9. Stacy’s offers cupcakes, candies, dessert bars, specialized cakes (including wedding cakes), and cookies—in particular, frosted sugar cookies. “Frosted sugar cookies are the big thing for everybody,” Stacy Grams, who owns and operates Stacy’s, said. “People just go crazy over them.” Bun in the Oven, located at 108 W. 3rd St. S., opened on Jan. 30. Bun in the Oven sells bakery sweets such as cinnamon rolls, pies, cream puffs, and cupcakes along with cookies and pastries representing different heritages—such as, at various times, Scottish tea cookies, fruitfilled German pancakes and Dutch letter bars. Bun in the Oven also features a brunch and lunch, with a Soup of the Day (made from scratch), grilled sandwiches, quiche, biscuits and gravy, coffee and more. Grams started her business as a hobby, filling orders for family and friends at cost. She spent about two years sharpening her skills and building up a clientele before opening Stacy’s. Grams also still has her catering business. Dalene Ogden, the owner of Bun in the Oven, previously had a location in the Main Street District but closed it in April 2014. She left to cater events at the Hunter Mansion, and has maintained a side catering business in the meantime. So she already has a following in Newton. “I’m excited to be back on my own and have a destination for my long-time, loyal customers,” Ogden said. “Now hopefully we can add some new customers, too.” You can find more details about both bakeries, and photos of some of the delicious food they sell, on their Facebook pages. You can also place orders for their catering businesses through Facebook. Stacy’s Sweetstuff and Bun in the Oven join other recent additions to the dining opportunities available in the Main Street District. In the last year, Moo’s BBQ opened for business. And Bridgehouse Coffee has added a lunch menu of soups and sandwiches. The newer eating establishments compliment Main Street District mainstays—Mr. Dan’s Sandwich Shop, Panda Garden, Midtown Café, Uncle Nancy’s, PJ’s Deli, Jimmy Johns and Dairy Queen. Such a wealth of restaurants has made the Main Street District into a casual dining destination, with two new bakeries for District visitors to get to know.
photo submitted
One of the renowned custom-made cakes from Stacy’s Sweetstuff, a bakery that opened in the Main Street District (at 208 ½ 1st Ave. W.), on Feb. 9.
photo submitted
A famous vanilla custard-filled crème puff from Bun in the Oven, a bakery and lunch spot that opened in the Main Street District (at 108 W. 3rd St. S.) on Jan. 30.
Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 9
Free architectural services available to Main Street District building owners Are you the owner of a building in the Newton Main Street District and planning a building improvement project for the spring or summer? As a property owner in the Main Street district, you have access to the services of a Main Street Iowa architect at no cost to you. These services can include design assistance with façade improvements, floor plans and more. A design consultation with a Main Street Iowa architect can lower overall project costs, illustrate what your ideas will look like when completed, solicit advice from a design professional with experience working on old buildings, initiate the process of applying for Historic Preservation Tax Credits, or strengthen your application for a Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant. The process is simple: 1) fill out the form at www.newtoniamainstreet. com/building-owner-resources/design-assistance/) and return it to the Newton Main Street office, 2) meet with the architect at your building to discuss the potential improvements—the meeting lasts an hour or less, 3) receive the architect’s rendering in the mail within a month of
the meeting, and 4) take the architect’s rendering to a contractor to show the contractor exactly what work you would like to do. After the consultation, you are under no obligation to complete the project. If your plans or budget change, you can arrange for another consultation. The consultations are strictly confidential. If you have any questions, or are planning any building improvements at any time, please contact the Newton Main Street office (113 1st Ave. W. or 641-792-5545). We can provide information on historically appropriate building improvements, help find contractors with experience working on old buildings, assist with preparing tax credit applications and additional project planning free of charge. Ultimately, preserving the historic character of the downtown benefits all downtown businesses and building owners.
The map shows the Newton Main Street District bounderies. If your property falls within the District, you have access to free architectural services Main Street Iowa. photo submitted
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Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 10
Newton Main Street awarded grant for market analysis The Iowa Economic Development Authority has selected Newton as one of eight Main Street communities to receive a grant of technical assistance to conduct a downtown market analysis. The study, which started on Feb 25 and conclude in August, will focus specifically on Newton’s Main Street District. Newton Main Street, the local nonprofit group leading downtown revitalization efforts, is performing the study to enhance downtown business development and marketing strategies. “Ultimately, the information we collect will be used to create strategies aimed at retaining and developing a quality mix of businesses and uses that, based on solid market data, show the best potential to succeed in downtown Newton,” Newton Main Street Executive Director Andrew Bassman said. Components of the study include an analysis of demographic and economic data, along with surveys of consumers and downtown business owners. This approach is designed to identify opportunities for business retention, expansion and recruitment. “We’re excited to gather the perspectives of Newton area residents, visitors and business persons who will be participating in surveys,” Bassman said. “This input will give us a better sense of what downtown can be in the future, and how the community can focus its efforts to make positive things happen in the downtown.” The local project team, led by Newton Main Street’s Economic Restructuring committee, will be guided by consultants from Main Street Iowa, a division of the IEDA, and Downtown Professionals Network. The technical assistance services have an estimated market value of $15,000.
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Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 11
1st Ave Sculpture Project The Iowa Sculpture Festival distributed a call for entries to area artists on Feb 17 for its second annual First Avenue Sculpture and Art program. The program is looking for six sculptures to display in high visibility locations on First Avenue. The Main Street District will host two of the sculptures—at the corner of 1st Ave. and 1st St. N., and at the corner of 1st Ave. E. and E. 2nd St. N. Newton Main Street cannot wait to see this year’s selections! The sculptures enhance the visual appeal of the Main Street District and First Avenue and enliven its visitors. The sculptures, which must be original to the artists in concept, composition and design, will be on display and promoted for sale from the end of March to Nov 1, 2015. Deadline for submissions for the project is March 7. For more information on submissions or the program, please call 641-521-3554.
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“The Guardian” by Gail Chavenelle, part of the Iowa Sculpture Festival’s First Avenue Sculpture and Art program, was on display at Sersland Park in 2014.
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Newton Main Street ~ The Hub - February • 2015 – Page 12
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