Huron Expositor, 2005-05-04, Page 3Brussels pilot market study could
be used to revitalize small towns
By Susan Htanderunark
Expositor Editor
A pilot market study of
Brussels, Ont. could be used
to help small towns
throughout the province with
economic revitalization.
"We were looking at
creating a tool kit for small
towns to use and we wanted
to test some of the strategies
used in U.S. revitalization
projects," said Norm
Ragetlie, municipal
economic development
program lead for the
Ministry of Municipal
Affairs.
Ragetlie and several others
from his ministry were in
Brussels last Wednesday to
share findings from the
Ontario Small Town pilot
market study.
"We work with a lot of
communities across Ontario
that are grappling with rural
downtown economic issues,"
said Ragetlie.
"We want to help you
choose strategies that work
for you," he said.
The pilot market study
showed that Brussels has a
trade area that encompasses a
third of Huron East and
extends into Morris-
Turnberry, including about
3,800 people.
The average income in the
trade area for Brussels is
$50,852, compared to the
provincial average of
$67,000.
Stephen Morris of the
Municipal Affairs Ministry
said that a quarter of the
population earns more than
$70,000 a year while another
quarter earns less than
$30,000.
He said the low
unemploymept rate of 4.5 per
cent could be seen as
positive, although for
business owners, it means
fewer employees to choose
from when considering
expansion.
Compared to the provincial
average of 58 per cent, 88
per cent of Brussels -area
residents live in single
detached homes, over half of
which were built before
1948.
"That's a benefit for the
heritage side and if you're in
the home renovation
business," said Morris.
After hiring four high
school students to interview
Brussels shoppers during
March Break, Moms said the
majority of shoppers are
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Norm Ragetlie, of the Ministry
done in Brussels recently.
from the Brussels area while
some travel from Seaforth,
Guelph and Kitchener -
Waterloo.
"Most live here and are
looking for a specific item
but some are
driving
through. The
positive
message is that
people find
shopping here
fast and
convenient and
want to support
local business,"
he said.
Morris added
that local
residents use
the downtown
like "a
neighbourhood
mall."
He said that
vacancies on
Main Street could be filled if
a number of home businesses
could be persuaded to open a
storefront.
"Thirty-five per cent of
your business is located at
home, outside the downtown
core," he said.
Ragetlie said if Brussels
business owners understand
who their customers are, they
can do a better job at serving
their needs,
He added that downtowns
serve other purposes than
Susan Hundertmark photo
of Municipal Affairs, explains the pilot market study
retail, pointing to the
cenotaph at the Legion, the
post office and the library as
other reasons people travel
downtown.
downtown is a
"Your
-112111F-
`We were
looking at
creating a tool
kit for small
towns to use
and we wanted
to test some of
the strategies
used in U.S.
revitalization
projects,'—
Norm Ragetlie, of
Ministry oMmf nnicipal
Affairs
living record
of your
community's
past and it
presents a
signal of the
vitality or
health of the
place," he
said.
Members of
the audience
said that one
of the major
stumbling
blocks to
Brussels'
revitalization
is absentee
landlords
who will not
improve the Main Street
buildings they own so the
space can be rented by
businesses.
"I think vacant store fronts
are a top priority -
getting those places
open so we can have
other businesses in
town," said Allyson Cardiff.
Paul Nichol of the Huron
Business Centre said the 22
per cent vacancy rate in
Brussels is as had as the
concentration of open
Metal work for downtown
should be ready for July
From Page 1
because of regulations they had to be
hung over the sidewalk.
McNichol said she hopes the new
planters and signs will hopefully he ready
to go up in time for the Come Home to the
Country at the end of July.
The project includes 23 poles that will
support planters, six poles with signs that
will display the names Seaforth and
Huron East as well as the municipality's
logo. two signs with the word downtown
on it. two parking signs and two arena
signs.
In the future. McNichol hopes to expand
the project having metal cutouts of
Seaforth landmarks in front of the
buildings with a plaque designating its
history.
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storefronts makes it seem.
"It's too bad it's all on
Main Street in one spot," he
said.
He added that if the
present buildings could be
improved, it would probably
be easier to find businesses
to fill them.
"The vacancy at the dime
store filled up quickly. The
real problem is finding a
building you can work out
of," he said.
"When you look at the
choices on Main Street, the
options are getting down
there unless the owners are
willing to put some money
into the building or put it into
someone's hands that do,"
said an audience member.
Several volunteers agreed
to join a steering committee
that will continue to look at
revitalization in Brussels.
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