With all of the private investment (over $5 million) and revitalization of some of the key buildings and businesses in Rolla’s downtown business district and the development of Benton Square in the new Arts and Entertainment District (over $3 million invested), it’s hard not to notice the significant strides that are being made in Rolla, Missouri.
Not coincidentally, that perception was made as well by Russell Volmert, Associate Director with Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. (PGAV), who is the Project Manager for the DREAM (Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance Missouri) Initiative program for the state of Missouri. Russell and his team were doing some field work in the downtown business district and Arts and Entertainment District while they were in Rolla last week to facilitate the DREAM. Kick-off meeting held at City Hall on April 22.
The DREAM Kick-off meeting follows the initial Scope of Services meeting held for the City of Rolla, on Jan. 29, 2010 at the Office of the Missouri Development Finance Board in Jefferson City. During the Kick-off meeting, which was attended by numerous downtown business owners, developers, investors, and officials from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and various city, county and state officials, Mr. Volmert and his team provided an overview of the DREAM Initiative tasks for Rolla they are working on. Some of the initiatives include: Organizational Structure Review, Project Administration, Community/Consumer Surveys, Land Use, Building, and Infrastructure Survey, Retail Market Analysis, Housing Market Analysis and Financial Assistance Evaluation. Other long-term activities included the Marketing Plan, Downtown Strategic Plan, and Communications Plan. As part of the Organizational Structure Review, the team is conducting a comprehensive analysis of the entities involved in Rolla’s downtown, including the City of Rolla, Missouri S&T, Rolla Downtown Business Association, Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and Meramec Regional Planning Commission. Russell stated that successful revitalization requires planning and strategic implementation by many organizations.
The community surveys that will be conducted during the upcoming Route 66 Summerfest and other community events will be used to identify and validate issues regarding downtown, and help establish the framework for future direction of the DREAM Initiative.
Russell explained that the DREAM Initiative is a project that allows Missouri communities to access technical and financial assistance for downtown revitalization, and at the same time provides the expertise and assistance for smaller Missouri communities to have their downtowns function on a more sophisticated and competitive level. He further elaborated on the goals of the DREAM Initiative, which are to re-establish the properties in the downtown core, increase property values and sales tax opportunities, re-establish a sense of place and cultural heritage in the heart of the community, and attract new private investment and jobs. Russell also provided an overview of the sponsoring State of Missouri agencies for the DREAM Initiative, which includes the Missouri Development Finance Board, Missouri Department of Economic Development, and Missouri Housing Development Commission.
Looking further along the 3-year project, which very likely could be condensed and shortened because of all the preliminary planning, research, and field work that has been done over by the City’s Community Development Department and Rolla Downtown Business Association, Russell explained the purpose of creating a Marketing Plan for the downtown business district. The marketing plan will include a strategy to promote downtown as a viable, commercial, business, civic and entertainment center for the city, and create an image of downtown to attract customers, investors and new businesses. The Downtown Strategic Plan will provide a 5-10 year vision for creative and positive change for downtown Rolla.
In closing, I would like to extend a special thanks to the City’s Community Development Department, and Russ Volmert and his team for helping to host the DREAM Initiative Kick-off Meeting, and to Alex’s Pizza (located at 8th and Pine), for providing pizza for the meeting. For more information about the DREAM Initiative, please visit www.dream.mo.gov, or contact John Petersen, the City’s Director of Community Development at 426-6970 or at jpetersen@rollacity.org.
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