| Main Street Approach |
Lake City, Colorado, is a recognized Main Street community and follows a four-point approach to revitalization and historic preservation. Find out more here. | |
| Coffee & Conversation |
The March discussion centered around a Think Local - Shop Lake City consumer awareness campaign. Many everyday items are available from local shops.
By doing business locally, we strengthen our immediate economy and turnover dollars in the community longer.
According to national statistics, every dollar spent at a local place of business is usually spent 6 to 15 times before it leaves the community. $1 becomes $6 which becomes $15 in community value.
Ideas include a May Matters challenge to only shop locally; a link on the lakecity.com website for "Everyday Items"; promotion of the existing bulk purchasing program of the Country Store and Food Coop; pre-season local shopping days; and quantifying the actual cost (price including time and fuel) of a specific shopping list.
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Join us for the next Coffee on April 1 - 8-8:30 a.m. and the Mocha Moose Coffee House. | |
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Data collection is so important for these efforts. In the next several months, we will be repeating a Resident Survey (conducted in 2006) and conducting a Work Force Survey. Please participate!
Two-Minute Survey
Downtown Design
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Volunteer Spotlight
Russ Brown has contributed hundreds of hours of volunteer work to the revitalization of Historic Downtown Lake City. Beginning with the creation of the Third Street Market and Gardens, Russ Brown was instrumental in turning a vacant lot into a community gathering place. A Governor's Award was received for this project and Russ received Lake City DIRT's 2006 volunteer of the year award.
In 2007, Russ Brown led a team of 80 volunteers to build more than 530 feet of boardwalk along Silver Street - and raised more than $26,000 of private funding for the project. For his instrumental work and vision in Historic Downtown, Russ received the 2007 Citizen of the Year award from the Lake City/Hinsdale County Chamber.
Russ continues to work to motivate and inspire other business leaders in our community. He is leading Phase 2 of the Boardwalk Project to construct additional walkways along Third Street.
Thank you, Russ, for your work and commitment.
Find out more about volunteer opportunities here
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Greetings!
Welcome to our monthly newsletter! You'll find information on our revitalization and historic preservation efforts in Lake City, Colorado, as well as the scoop on local businesses and community happenings. Enjoy. |
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DIRT News
The 2008 Third Street Boardwalk Project is in the works. We built more than 530 feet of historic boardwalk in the downtown area in 2007. For 2008, we are building less than 200 feet - along the northside of the Miners and Merchants Bank and from the Silver Spur to the alley of the Hough Building. For information on how to sponsor a boardwalk foot, please click here
In-Service Community Celebration of Volunteerism - National Volunteer Week is April 27 - May 3. Stay tuned for more information about our local celebration.
The final Economic Feasibility Study has been released. Click here to review the document. Thank you to Jay Schlinsog and Lisa Bennett of Downtown Professionals Network for outstanding work.
Roger von Riesen, historic preservation officer for the Town of Lake City, attended the February Colorado Preservation Conference, and provided a synopsis of the event to the Town Trustees at the early March meeting.
Third Street Gardeners - interested in sponsoring a plot again this year? Please let us know by April 1st if you are unable to.
The next Coffee & Conversation is April 1 (No Fooling), 8 to 8:30 am at the Mocha Moose.
Lake City Community Youth Corps - looking for students and summer service projects that have community benefit. Participant space and projects limited so call today.
Take advantage of the Revolving Loan program for business expansions. 2% interest, $5,000 maximum, must be a Lake City business owner. Click here for more info.
Wine and Music Festival 2008 - looking for volunteer wine-servers, and set-up and clean-up crews. Consider being a financial underwriter for the event. For more information, contact the Uncorked Group at danielle@hallrealty.net or 970-944-8100.
Courthouse and Bank Ornaments - The 2007 Commemorative Ornament features the Miners and Merchants Bank. Purchase one for $20. The 2008 Commemorative Ornament will feature the Hinsdale County Courthouse ($20). You can pre-order this ornament as well, or purchase the set of two for $35. A limited quantity of each is available.
The third annual Art Walk and Auction will feature a moose. If you are interested in creating a masterpiece for auction at this event, let us know!
Third Street Market vendors - it's not too early to start planning your summer booth!
Thanks to the Pioneer Jubilee Women's Club, the Community Youth Corps will have enough hand tools for all. The Women's Club is also sponsoring a "Lake City - a Kid-Friendly Town" publication. Thank you! |
Lake City Business News
Packer Saloon - open seven days a week. Congratulations to Lynn and Gavin McNitt.
Mary Carkin has relocated her writing services to a new office in the top of the Hough Building. Congratulations!
Take advantage of the bulk purchasing program at the Country Store.
Congratulations to Lake City Ice Climbs for a great ice-climbing event! |
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We've had warmer temperatures for several weeks, and the mud is peeking through the snow. However, this week the temperature has plummeted back below zero. Fortunately, the final Economic Feasibility Study for Lake City/Hinsdale County has been released! What better reading material could you find as you cuddle up next to the woodstove?
As a community, we worked through the process of this study over the past several months, and the love of community was apparant and a common theme with residents, seasonal residents, and repeat visitors. Some of the results - such as the estimated $2.9 million sales leakage to neighboring towns or the expected lack of year-round population increase - are not surprising, but remain primary challenges in economic revitalization efforts.
As is often the case, our obstacles and opportunities are related. Geographical remoteness and limited population represent both a strength and a challenge. Working together, we can create the future that we collectively want to see. We can preserve the authentic pieces of our community. We can improve the social and economic conditions for all the members of our community.
Please take the time to review the Economic Feasibility Study (an Executive Summary is found on page 1 - 4, though you may just find yourself intrigued enough to continue reading!) and let us know your responses and ideas. Whether you are a full-time resident or just come here once every few years, we need you and your thoughts as we move forward in stabilitizing our economy.
Kristine Borchers
Lake City DIRT
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