Quarterly Newsletter
In This Issue
Cover Story
Thank You Partners
Thank You Volunteers
Meeting Reminder
Chocolate Tour
Second Fridays
Mardi Gras & Irish Fest
InVeST 2017
Discover Downtown
Sponsors Needed
Downtown Events
Quick Links
Join Our List

 Board of Directors

Jill Rickart

President

Mark Spohn

Vice President

David Rhodus

Treasurer

Jenai Collison

Secretary

Cheryl Boos

Board Member

Gary Sanson

Board Member

Rob Meadows

Board Member

Scott Adams

Board Member

Sharon Powell

City Liaison

Betty Bissel

Recording Secretary

Mission

Our mission is to provide services & support to businesses, promote positive economic development and tourism; preserving our historic and natural resources while enhancing citizen's quality of life in Downtown Excelsior Springs.



Vision

To foster an environment that encourages growth and development while enhancing the historic quality of downtown Excelsior Springs.



Tagline

Downtown Excelsior Springs is the FIRST and FOREVER heart of our community!



Position Statement

The Downtown Excelsior Partnership is a community supported and volunteer driven organization for people of all walks of life who are working together to revitalize our downtown.  We are united in our efforts to build a special place that future generations will be proud to call their home.  We have a deep-rooted love for Excelsior Springs, an affection for its history and a passion for creating a fun, economically vibrant and visually compelling downtown.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 








1st Quarter     
January 2017
Words From Our Executive Director, Lyndsey Baxter 
2016 Recap - Ready for 2017
Wow!  What a year we had in downtown in 2016!  So many things were accomplished, so much growth occurred.  We are really moving in the right direction!  I am already looking forward to our best year yet in 2017!  Below I would like to share some of the statistics that made our progress possible as well as our committee accomplishments.  I hope you enjoy seeing everything that occurred as much as I did when I began compiling the list!




We had 10 new full time jobs and 20 new part time jobs created in downtown businesses!


Nearly $300,000 was spent in private building improvements in downtown Excelsior Springs!


462 volunteer hours were given to the Downtown Excelsior Partnership.  That is equivalent to $21,274.68.


2016 Accomplishments Included...

  • Hosted the first DEP Awards Dinner recognizing key individuals in the downtown revitalization process
  • Completed the Carolyn Schutte Pocket Park
  • Assisted with the addition of 11 new businesses to downtown
  • Secured $10,000 for Façade Grant Opportunities for building and business owners
  • Invested $102,000 in downtown properties and entrepreneurial opportunities
  • Successfully hosted the Visit Excelsior tourism website that achieved 3 million hits
  • Secured a Missouri Tourism Grant to assist in the development of the 2017 marketing plan
  • Created a self-guided Walking Tour of our famous Historic Buildings in downtown
  • Successfully hosted 13 promotional events, bringing over 9,000 people to downtown
  • Spent over $15,000 marketing the downtown district and Visit Excelsior campaign
  • Completed the banner initiative adding 38 new banners to our historic districts.
We definitely had a busy year here at the Downtown Excelsior Partnership and have loved seeing all of the downtown growth occur!  We are looking forward to making downtown even more economically vibrant in 2017!



Sincerely,

Lyndsey M. Baxter

Executive Director
Thank You 2016 Partners!    
We Can't Do It Without Our Partners!
Our partners in downtown revitalization make everything we do possible!  We could not and would not be the organization we are without their financial support!  Below are individuals and businesses who partnered with DEP during 2016!  Thank you to each and every one of you!  We truly appreciate your continued support of our organization and it's mission!


Slightly Off Broadway Theatre  -  New Age Skincare Spa

Bross & Spidle Funeral Home  -  Rhodus Properties

Kearney Trust Company  -  Shabby Chic Boutique

K-9 Clips  -  The Mug  -  Bliss

Dance Theatre Workshop  -  Bobkorn Kettle Corn

Good Samaritan Center  -  The Farm House

Broadway Bar & Grill  - City of Excelsior Springs
Willow Spring Mercantile  -  Atlas Saloon
Mod-I-Fyed Good's  -  Molly Roberts Studio
Mind, Body & Soap  -  Ventana Gourmet Grill

Herradura Mexican Restaurant  -  American Artifact Co.
Loves Bling  -  The Elms Hotel & Spa

Ray's Diner  -  Ameren Missouri

Hall of Waters Trust  -  Chamber of Commerce

Excelsior Springs Museum & Archives  -  Scott Adams

Brad & Brenda Eales  -  Rex & Carol Baxter

Terri Irons  -  Morgansites!  -  Dr. Scott Craven

Richard Wharton  -  Margaret Freeburg
Thank You 2016 Volunteers      
You Drive This Organization!
We can not thank those of you enough that volunteered for the Downtown Excelsior Partnership in 2016!  You all are truly an inspiration and make everything we do happen!  Without your involvement and volunteer hours we would not be where we are today.  For that, we thank you!


2016 Committee Volunteers

Carol Baxter, Melissa Simmons, Jade Williams, Mary Colvin, Monique Block, Wendy Baldwin, Misty Wright, Kim Meadows, Shannon Good, Daphne Bowman, Jim Bowman, Anna Sue Spohn, Molly McGovern, Kim Sanson, Robin Watkins, Amanda Mayse, Renne Waterfield, Cathy & Don Thomas, Deb Elliott, Kathy Duncan, Martha Buckman, Marilyn Gerdes, Jaime Blackburn, Carrie Carr, Jenna Robinson, Lacy Chitwood, Jason Jones, Justin Ballantyne, Jake Simmons, Amora Simmons, McKayla Simmons, Tiffany Merrick, T.R. Kennedy, Shannon Stroud, Cory Wartner, Nate Williams, Taran Svoboda, Skyla Sullivan, Renee Hutcheson, Betty Bissel, & Cindy Snyder Roth




If you are interested in volunteering for the Downtown Excelsior Partnership in 2017, let us know by emailing our Executive Director by clicking this link Email Me.  Let us know what your interests are and what you would like to be a part of.  We want to make your volunteer time as enjoyable as possible!  We look forward to being able to work together!
 
Quarterly Meeting Reminder      
Tuesday, January 10th, 2017
We would like to extend another reminder about our January Quarterly Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 10th, at 9:00 a.m. at Ventana Gourmet Grill.


Together we will be recapping 2016 and celebrating our successes, as well as sharing goals and our direction for 2017.


We are also asking businesses and individuals to bring their own ideas to the table and share how DEP can help benefit your businesses and best make downtown more economically vibrant in 2017.


We would like to use this meeting as a roundtable setting to discuss how future quarterly meetings can be beneficial for everyone.


We will be supplying coffee and breakfast snacks so please RSVP to our Executive Director if you plan to attend by clicking the link below.


Chocolate Tour 2017      
Tickets Are Selling Fast!
Chocolate Tour 2017 tickets are now on sale and are going fast!  Tickets are $15 each.  If you plan to attend this great event make sure to order your tickets early by clicking this link, Chocolate Tour Tickets


So far we have 23 downtown merchants participating in the tour and are expecting several more.  Not only will you be able to sample chocolates at all of the various stops, you will be able to sample wine at the Hall of Waters Visitor Center.


Grab your best friends and come enjoy a wonderful day in Historic Downtown Excelsior Springs shopping and sampling delicious chocolates and wines at our various merchants. Hurry before we sell out!
Second Fridays    
Art Crawl Fun Every Month!
Join the Downtown Excelsior Partnership and our Downtown Merchants the Second Friday of every month!  You will be able to experience the night life atmosphere of Downtown Excelsior Springs with featured artists, musicians, specials, dinner, drinks and more at our participating shops.  Each month you can go to the Visit Excelsior Tourism Website to see what everyone has to offer or click this link Second Fridays.
Mardi Gras & Irish Festival      
It's Almost Here!
Mark your calendars for the Mardi Gras & Irish Festival scheduled for Saturday, March 11th in Downtown Excelsior Springs!  Our promotion committee is working hard to finalize plans for this 2017 event.  The parade will start at 2:00 p.m. so make sure to bring the kids down for a great time. 


If you are interested in entering a float in the parade we would love to hear from you.  The cost is $10 per parade entry.  Contact our Promotion Committee Chair, Carol Baxter by clicking this link, Email Us.
InVeST 2017   
Consider InVeSTing today!
Become an investor in the Downtown Excelsior Partnership today and let's continue the revitalization of our historic downtown! DEP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 100% of your contribution is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.


Some of our other investors have said...


"I believe that DEP has helped grow my business because it lays the foundation to draw attention to and attract customers to our downtown.  DEP does this through advertising, holding events, and by giving us a cumulative voice as a downtown community.  Without the extra effort put in by DEP and its volunteers our downtown could not have grown and became the strong and vibrant community it has become.  Having a team of people helping your business grow is a great resource!" - Jill Rickart / Ventana Gourmet Grill



"I'm so proud to be a part of our downtown!  We always have lots of fun events festivals going on!  We have such a great group of businesses downtown.  I don't know why anyone would shop anywhere else!" - Molly Roberts/Molly Roberts Studio
Discover Downtown   
A Director's Blog on Downtown E.S.
Know your target audience. Who are your most important customers, clients or prospects, and why? Know what is important to them and address their needs in your newsletter each month. Include a photo to make your newsletter even more appealing.
 
Insert a "read on" link at the bottom of your article to drive traffic to your website. Links are tracked, allowing you to see which articles create the most interest for your readers.
 
Quarterly Sponsors Needed 
Help Make Our Meetings Better!
The Downtown Excelsior Partnership is looking for quarterly meeting sponsors for the month of April, July and October of 2017.  We are asking sponsors for a $100 donation to DEP.  For your $100 donation you will get recognition in all print materials for the upcoming quarterly meeting, a free ad in the upcoming newsletter, and a month of a rotating banner ad on the Visit Excelsior Tourism Website.  Your donation of $100 allows us to secure the space, speakers, food, and drinks for our quarterly meetings.  If you are interested in sponsoring one of our quarterly meetings please email Lyndsey by clicking this link, Email Lyndsey.
A List of 2017 Downtown Events
Mark Your Calendars!
 
January 10th - Quarterly Meeting

January 13th - Second Fridays

February 4th - Chocolate Tour

February 10th - Second Fridays

March 10th - Second Fridays

March 11th - Mardi Gras & Irish Festival

April 12th - Quarterly Meeting

April 14th - Second Fridays

May 12th - Second Fridays
May 12th - Gin & Jazz - A Great Gatsby Affair

May 12th-14th - Gatsby Days

June 9th - Second Fridays

June 17th - 11th Annual Wine Festival
June 23rd-25th - Waterfest

June 24th - Pancake Breakfast

July 12th - Quarterly Meeting

July 14th - Second Fridays

August 11th - Second Fridays
August 18th-19th - BBQ Fly In On The River
August 20th-21st - Solar Eclipse Festival

September 8th - Second Fridays

September 9th - Mug Shots

September 21st - Annual Benefit Dinner

October 11th - Quarterly Meeting

October 13th - Second Fridays

October 21st - Pumpkins & Mums Fall Festival

November 10th - Second Fridays

November 18th - Christmas Kick Off Celebration

November 25th - Small Business Saturday

December 8th - Second Fridays
Only

$25!
Interested in advertising your business in our quarterly newsletters?  You can!!  For $25 you can include your business, details, specials, pictures and more on our newsletter that reaches nearly 10,000 individuals!  You provide the logo, pictures and information and we put it together!  If you are interested in advertising your business contact Lyndsey at exec@visitesprings.com or by phone at 816.719.9912! 
Newsletters go out in January, April, July and October each year. 

Make sure to get your information to the Director the month before the newsletter is sent out.
  


Downtown Excelsior Partnership | PO Box 513 | Excelsior Springs | MO | 64024