Downtown Winooski director reports rising sponsorships, seeks state support for downtown programs

Melissa Corbin, director of Downtown Winooski, updated the Winooski City Council on the nonprofit’s 2024 activities and a statewide legislative agenda for downtown support.

Corbin said Downtown Winooski was accredited by Main Street America in 2024 and that downtown programs across Vermont catalyzed private and public investment last year. “Last year, our downtown programs catalyzed just over $100,000,000 in private investment and public funding, creating 295 full-time and 177 part-time jobs,” Corbin said.

The nut graf: Corbin asked councilors to support a Vermont Downtown Coalition legislative package that would provide recurring baseline funding for downtown organizations and restore and expand state tax-credit programs used to rehabilitate historic commercial buildings. She said the coalition also seeks money for placemaking grants and support for flood response and public-safety work in downtowns.

Corbin outlined specific requests in the coalition’s 2025 policy agenda: $625,000 in base funding for designated downtowns, $5 million for the downtown and village center tax credit program, and $500,000 for the Better Places matching grant program. She said the $625,000 request includes a $25,000 allotment for each designated downtown organization and funding for a statewide coordinating role.

On local activity, Corbin said sponsorship and individual giving increased in 2024. She told councilors that sponsorship dollars rose 139% year over year and that she built a donor database with 187 recurring donors giving between $5 and $5,000. “We had over 7,000 people attend our events this year,” she said, and reported $245,500 paid directly to local vendors through the farmers market.

Corbin reviewed the organization’s event season: French Heritage Day, farmers markets, a Juneteenth DJ series, block parties and a holiday pop-up market. She said the winter farmers market trial at the senior center underperformed and may be discontinued, but the board had not reached a final decision.

Corbin described turnover and pay problems in the nonprofit downtown network: she said 83% of Main Street executive directors in Vermont are women, 79% earn less than the national average, and only 13% offer paid parental leave. As Vermont Downtown Coalition co-director, Corbin said she will work on succession planning and shared tools between downtowns.

Councilors asked operational questions about vendor coordination and partnerships. Councilor Brynn suggested coordinating a winter market with another local organizer; Corbin said she has a meeting scheduled. Councilors thanked Corbin for the update and volunteers on Zoom and in the chamber praised the organization’s free-events policy.

Ending: Corbin said Downtown Winooski’s board expects to approve its 2025 budget this week and that she had provided reconciled financial reports back to 2016; she invited councilors to ask follow-up questions or request the full strategic plan.