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The Citizen, 2003-05-21, Page 3BIG hears plan for village renewal THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2003. PAGE 3. A plan to change the fundamentals of doing business on Blyth’s main street was proposed to the Blyth Idea Group at its second meeting, May 14 at Memorial Hall. Paul Nichol, economic development manager for the Huron Business Development Corporation proposed bringing the community together to work on everything from streetscape redesign to assisting businesses to solve their problems to providing seminars to improve business skills to recruiting new businesses to loan programs and tax rebates to encourage businesses to invest in the village. After discussing the proposal the dozen people at the meeting voted to invite a facilitator to help refine the vision of what the community should do to deal with the problems of vacant buildings on main street. In his presentation Nichol reviewed the forces that have been changing main streets in small towns across Ontario. Part of the problem here in Huron is a demographic shift, he said. “Downtown is all about people,” he said, yet latest census figures show Huron’s population dropped 1,012 people between 1995 and 2000. While there has always been an outflow of young people, particularly to get an education, the worrisome new trend is “we’re starting to lose young families.” The only part of the county that is growing in population is along the lakeshore where early-retiring people are moving for the recreational activities. Another driving force is the new consumerism, Nichol said. Today’s consumers are driven by price and there is little loyalty to merchants. Shifting shopping patterns in the county show that in 2000-2001, half the retail expenditures in the entire county were in Goderich, with Exeter attracting another quarter and all the other communities battling over the remaining quarter. Blyth is at the bottom of the 10 towns and villages, possibly because there aren’t any large car dealerships. On the plus side is the rural renaissance that began with the back-to-the-land movement 30 years ago, he said. HBDC has done research about wha*. draws new residents to the county and one of the main attractions is the rich architecture of the county, Nichol said. People also like the cultural vitality of the county that creates many community fairs and activities. “We’ve always been good at organizing events,” he said. Nichol reviewed other local efforts at downtown revitalization beginning with the “Main Street” program in Seaforth in the 1980s which sought to preserve and restore the classic Victorian architecture by attracting new businesses and encouraging landlords to renovate their buildings. He spoke of how Wroxeter residents, spurred on by a book that described their village as a ghost town, rallied and invested their money to buy and demolish some buildings that were beyond saving, while improving the streetscape and holding an annual Ghost Town festival. In Zurich the Swiss Heritage Revitalization Project attempts to play up the village’s heritage. Clinton has its mural and facade improvement program, funded in part by money from the Slots casino. St. Marys has a Downtown Revitalization Strategy that has received government funding to help design a program to attract more people from London and Stratford. Nichol said the best programs deal with as many aspects of main street success as possible. “The hallmarks of success are strong leadership and commitment, a well organized plan of attack, a vision for streetscape improvements, financial incentives for building owners and an aggressive business development effort,” Nichol said. People resist proposals to give financial incentives for business owners or landlords but in some case you have to realize that you have to go beyond the belief that business should look after itself. As well, “you have to put a lot of work into economic development,” Nichol said. “It won’t just happen.” But there are tools to help, he assured the group. Under the new Ontario municipalities can designate an enterprise zone, where building owners can be rewarded for the money they spend upgrading their buildings by having a matching amount deducted from their property tax. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food offers leadership help for communities to come up with plans for redevelopment. HBDC offers free management advice for new businesses and loans for businesses that can’t get financing elsewhere. The responsive reading was Psalm 22. The gospel reading was John 15: 11-17. Rev. Bannerman’s message to the adults was Sofia: A Palestinian Poet from Nazareth. Rev. Bannerman was asked to remain at the front while Nicole Meier read a poem to him and wished him happy birthday. She presented him with a card signed by everyone attending church. The Sunday school served birthday cake and juice. cares said, in a from Municipal Act, Norm Gowing is home from hospital. Margaret Nesbit is still in Wingham hospital. Sympathy is extended to Grace McNichol and family in the death of a husband, father, grandfather and great­ grandfather, Aubrey McNichol who died Tuesday, May 13. Our sympathy is also extended to Jean Tasker and family in the death of a husband, father and grandfather Lloyd Tasker who died Tuesday, May 13. The seniors meeting is on Wednesday, May 28 at noon at the Anglican church auditorium. It is a potluck lunch with cards to follow. Greeting at Blyth United Church Sunday, May 18 were Chris Gleave and Irma Mason. Ushering was Rob Mason. Guest musician was Lynda Lentz-MacGregor. For the children’s story, Rev. Eugen Bannerman asked them what kind of flowers he had in his hand. They were red and yellow tulips.He told the children that the tulip was hundreds of years old. Every May 24 the birthday of the tulip is celebrated in Holland. Those taking part in the dramatized lectionary reading were Chelsea and Amelia Carter-Brown and Brandilyn, Amanda and Wyatt Bearss. The province can contribute money through the OSTAR-Rural Economic Development program. Nichol suggested several ways to help new and existing businesses such as a business retention and expansion initiative in which a local group of trained volunteers talks to existing businesses and finds out what problems stand in the way of greater success. In helping the businesses, they not only help solve these problems but send a powerful message that the community about their success, Nichol “Eighty per cent of growth community will come businesses that are already here.” He also suggested tapping into connections such as a mailing list of former residents who attended the recent homecoming, to invite them to open businesses in the village, while giving them a list of the top 10 business opportunities. Of people who have set up a business in the county, 75 per cent have a personal connection here, he said. But to attract people home it’s important to look and see if the community is an appealing place to live, Nichol said. “The single most critical issue facing the county is out loss of people,” Nichol said. “We have to find ways of bringing people back.” In doing so we need to examine our communities and make sure they are appealing places to live, he said. FROM BLYTH < 1< ◄ < «< I < << << < <<< <<< <<< < LAWN QUESTIONS? 100% Organic Programs! ■SWMW 524-2424 -Trust the Professionals - Blyth Road Goderich Open: Mon. - Wed. 9-6 Thurs. - Sat. 9-8 Closed Sunday 1 Walton VClinton Congratulations Captain Frank Wilson, left, and Deputy-Chief Bill Burkholder of the Blyth and District Fire Department were presented with their 25-year long service medal from fire marshal Bernard Moyle at the fire services investiture ceremony May 15 in London. Wives Sharon and Brenda, respectively, were each presented with a companion’s brooch. (Photo submined) All-you-can-eat Fish Fry $ Saturday, May 24 From 5-8 p.m. Full menu also available tbe Blyth Iw 523-9381 ► ► ► ►► ►►► ►► ► ►>► ► ► ►► ► ► ►►► ► Wtsingsz farm flowrs 83341 CURRIE LINE - RR 3 BLYTH 519-523-9407 Owner: Gaye Datema We sell from our greenhouse: bedding plants, hanging baskets, planters and will fill your planters. We have some tomatoes and vegetables, Spanish onions, peppers, broccoli, late and early cabbage. We also have some good perenn.als. Give us a call anytime We have a good selection of wave petunias and fuchsias, ivies, verbenas, geraniums, begonias, spikes, daisies and many more. COME AND SEE US THIS SEASON FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING PLANTS We have a large selection of beautiful Annuals Hanging Baskets Mixed Planters Expanded Selection of Perennials Vegetables & Herbs Container Mix, Mulches, Peat Moss, etc. F Wingham Jack & Sylvia Nonkes RR#1 Auburn located just west of Blyth, watch for the blue sign on the Blyth Road • 523-9456 •