Downtown Boone Main Street director outlines early wins, volunteer investment and pending projects

Holly Stecher, Downtown Boone Main Street director, told the Boone City Council that Downtown Boone has recorded early private investment and volunteer support while building the organization—s programs and accreditation work.

Stecher said the district reported more than $131,000 in building rehabilitation investment in the fourth quarter, including $98,400 in private funds and $33,000 identified in what she described in her report as program funding. The quarterly report also logged 85 volunteer hours; using the state—s valuation of $28.28 per hour that amount translates to about $5,343 of volunteer investment, Stecher said. For the quarter the program reported $35,237 in revenue and $19,931 in expenditures.

The presentation outlined the Main Street transformation strategies—commercial building reactivation, enhancing sense of place, and building a sustainable, inclusive organization—used by Main Street America affiliates. Stecher said the strategies feed the group—s accountability and accreditation process with Main Street Iowa and Main Street America.

Stecher summarized recent activity in the district: two commercial building sales (821 Story Street, the Duffy—s appliance building, and 1102 Story Street, the Whistle Stop Cafe), no new housing reported in the quarter, and community events that drew hundreds of attendees, including a trunk-or-treat event the Chamber reported served about 1,100 people.

When a council member asked what volunteers had been doing, Stecher said many hours reflected board members attending Main Street Iowa trainings and other administrative and program-startup activities rather than hands-on streetscape work.

Stecher also listed projects the program is pursuing: the downtown tree-planting program (maintenance and first-year care underway), the Radicato Sixth Street underground and facade project (a catalyst pre-application was submitted Jan. 31), an arch project with George Eckstein (to be discussed at the Feb. 17 council meeting), and the Van Hemmert Family Terrace landscaping/retaining wall. She said committees are being formed and pledged collections and volunteer recruitment are gaining momentum.

Stecher thanked the City of Boone and the Boone Chamber for financial and staff support and said the organization is laying administrative groundwork for a sustainable program. She closed by urging continued partnership and volunteer engagement as the program moves from startup to regular operations.

The presentation was informational; no formal council action was requested at the meeting. Council members asked clarifying questions about volunteer activities and event support and expressed appreciation for the work reported.

The council will hear follow-up items related to the arch project at the Feb. 17 meeting and staff indicated they are tracking the Radicato catalyst grant process.