Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ShedCo seeks RDBG-funded Retail Strategies marketing plan for Hot Springs downtown
Summary
ShedCo Executive Director Andrea Powers told the Hot Springs City Council she supports applying with West River Planning District for an RDBG grant to fund Retail Strategies’ customized market analysis and a five-year downtown marketing plan; the work would be delivered to the city if the grant is awarded.
ShedCo Executive Director Andrea Powers told the Hot Springs City Council she was approached by Jennifer Seeds of the West River Planning District about pursuing a Rural Development Block Grant (RDBG) to fund Retail Strategies’ downtown market analysis and a five‑year marketing plan. Powers said the consultant would produce five deliverables, offer ongoing technical support and small-business assistance, and that most of the city’s contribution would be staff time rather than cash.
Powers described the consultant’s approach as data-driven: “Where your cell phone is, you are,” she said, explaining Retail Strategies would use mobile device data to map retail gaps and shopping flows and to recommend opportunities for local merchants. She said Jennifer Seeds would lead the project and that ShedCo would provide support for grant administration and outreach.
Powers said the application is competitive; she did not receive ARP funding on a separate project and has been advised by a state reviewer the Downtown marketing concept scores well but faces heavy competition. If funded, Powers said the work would likely begin in November and take roughly a year, with an initial on‑site market research visit followed by online follow-up meetings. She characterized the plan as strictly a marketing strategy, not a change to the city’s comprehensive plan, and told council the only anticipated financial outlay for the city would be staff time and volunteer participation.
Council members asked operational questions — for example, whether the process would be an open community forum or targeted focus groups — and Powers said Retail Strategies would determine focus group composition and the outreach approach. Several council members expressed general support but noted any formal city action would await confirmation of grant responsibilities from West River Planning.
The council did not take formal action on the grant application in the meeting; Powers said West River Planning would likely be the applicant and the city would receive the project products upon award.
