Development – Discover Muscatine WPematico Content

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Downtown development in Muscatine will be the focus of four downtown revitalization specialists from the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Downtown Resource Center this week as they tour the city and meet with residents and business owners.

The City of Muscatine and the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry have teamed up to coordinate the Downtown Assessment scheduled Tuesday through Thursday (May 3-5). The Assessment is an intense, on-site study of the downtown, including a public presentation at the end of the visit and a written report that will help the planning efforts of the City of Muscatine.

“The Assessment Visit is a great way for a community to take a step back and get honest feedback from a qualified group of downtown professionals,” Jim Engle, Director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, said. “The five-person team will highlight the downtown’s strengths and challenges, and will offer some practical recommendations that the community can implement over time.”

Muscatine’s Assessment team consists of:

Carol Lilly, Downtown Development Specialist, Iowa Downtown Resource Center, IEDA
Jim Thompson, Downtown Economic Development Specialist, Iowa Downtown Resource Center, IEDA
Jeff Geerts, Special Projects Manager, IEDA
Tim Reinders, Design consultant
Dennis Reynolds, Reynolds Design

All four of the IEDA Downtown Revitalization Specialists have worked extensively in all sizes of communities in the Midwest with an emphasis on downtown development. Many communities in Iowa have taken advantage of this service and then went on to execute successful plans and projects. Issues such as downtown aesthetics, business mix and development, organizational refinement, promotion calendars, and building rehabilitation are common themes for the downtown assessment visits.

The service started earlier this month with a short pre-visit, and an on-line survey completed by more than 200 residents. While on-site, the team will tour the community and the downtown, hold a public meeting and interview a number of local businesses owners, residents and community groups.

“The visit is always most successful when we have excellent community input,” Engle said. “We encourage Muscatine residents to get involved with the visit in some way. Meet with the assessment team. Attend the public meeting. We encourage you to think about your downtown and come ready to participate.”

A public meeting will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday (May 5) at Musser Public Library. All members of the public and media are invited to attend the presentation and ask questions of the assessment team.

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine is partnering with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) on the first step to develop and implement strategies for a stronger community starting with an assessment of Downtown Muscatine.

“This partnership will assist us in defining the importance of downtown development and, specifically, how we can implement strategies to make the downtown more viable,” Jodi Royal-Goodwin, Community Development Director, said. “Downtown revitalization is a key ingredient in growing our community and a City priority.”

The City has contracted with the IEDA’s Downtown Resource Center to have the Downtown Assessment completed. The Assessment will be performed by an experienced team of professionals who identify local strengths and weaknesses creating the basis for recommendations on how to attract customers to the area.

The first step of the Assessment is a pre-visit online survey that will be followed by an intense, on-site study of the downtown area. The survey is open to the public and available at Downtown Muscatine Survey but will close on April 15. The goal is to have 100 residents and businesses complete the survey to give the assessment team an understanding of Muscatine before they hit the streets.

The short survey seeks public input on the strengths and weaknesses of Downtown Muscatine, how to improve the business climate, and what public amenities are most needed in the district.

A downtown or traditional commercial district represents a community’s history and helps define the community according to the IEDA. City planners will have a better understanding of the unique identity of the downtown district, and features and strengths that draw residents, visitors, businesses, and commerce through the survey and assessment team visit.