Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Activation Intown Revival topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Manchester advisory board to explore reviving downtown ‘InTown’ organization
Summary
After attending a national downtown conference, board members reported that a professional downtown organization could aid events and activation. The advisory board authorized staff and a board member to consult the city attorney about amending an existing nonprofit as the fastest path to relaunch such an organization.
The Central Business Special District (CBSD) advisory board voted to authorize board member Peter Richard and a staff member, Jody, to consult city attorney Brad Cook about whether the city can amend an existing nonprofit that previously ran the local “InTown” downtown organization. The discussion followed a pair of board members’ return from the International Downtown Association conference, where they examined professional approaches to downtown management.
The board said reviving a professional downtown organization could help convert recent cleanliness improvements into more consistent events and foot traffic. “Now that we’ve kind of cleaned our house, we wanna start inviting people over,” Jody said after the conference. Peter Richard, a board member, told the meeting the conference showed many districts rely on a paid, professional leader to run events, budgets and fundraising.
Why it matters: a staffed downtown organization typically plans recurring events, secures sponsorships and coordinates marketing that can increase commercial activity downtown. Board members said such an organization could complement the contracted street-cleaning team already operating downtown and help activate sidewalks, sponsor markets and run “second Saturday” or similar programs.
Board members described two possible paths: (1) amend and rename the existing nonprofit that once ran downtown programs, which could be faster if the organization’s corporate filings and previous board can be reconstituted; or (2) create a new 501(c)(3) and staff it through a national search. “The one thing different that we really need to do is… make that investment in person,” Peter said, describing examples from other cities where paid professionals run downtown districts.
Funding was a central concern. Conference attendees from other cities often rely on sales or hotel taxes that New Hampshire does not have, board members said, so Manchester would need a mix of fundraising, sponsorships and local contributions. Board members said InTown historically raised roughly $250,000 in a year and that Concord’s downtown organization receives about $30,000 annually from its city plus sponsorships and event fees.
Board members reported the nonprofit that previously ran InTown remains in administrative good standing for a limited period because it filed required paperwork in 2019; board members said that status is good through the end of this year and that the organization would need new filings in 2025 to remain current. The board heard from a former chair on record, Noreen Ortlander, who reportedly offered support if needed.
Formal action: a board member moved and a second was recorded to authorize Peter Richard and Jody to contact city attorney Brad Cook to determine whether the existing nonprofit can be amended and, if so, what steps are required to revive it. The board recorded the motion as approved; a detailed vote tally was not provided in the meeting record.
Next steps: the board instructed Richard and Jody to consult Brad Cook, to reach out to prior board members named on the nonprofit’s filings as needed, and to report back to the CBSD advisory board on whether an amendment is feasible or if formation of a new nonprofit would be required.
