Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

You’ve no doubt heard of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. Moving with vision, speed, and determination in the opposing direction are the Four Partners of Economic Development.

The executive directors of the partners (the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Authority, the NDDC, and the Northfield Enterprise Center) kicked off their regular meetings for 2009 by getting together earlier this week. From left to right are Jody Gunderson, EDA, Ross Currier, NDDC, Blake Abdella, NEC, and Kathy Feldbrugge, Chamber.

Topics on Tuesday included following up on the recent series of summits on In-fill and Redevelopment, moving forward on the review and enhancement of Northfield’s Economic Development “Toolbox”, consideration of a Market “Re-Analysis” and “Re-Targeting”, a customization of the University of Minnesota Extension Service’s Retail Trade Analysis, and collaborating on a “Shop Local” campaign. Roles and responsibilities were discussed and action steps for the next two weeks were set into motion.

There is a sense of urgency driving our work. We are all optimistic that the times are right for meaningful positive changes in Northfield.

Man, oh man, oh man…there’s is a lot going in our dynamic little art town this weekend. And such variety too.

Let’s start it off with The Key. The oldest youth-run youth organization in American celebrates its 15th year of existence with an Open House, tonight, Thursday January 29th, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., 303 South Water Street. All are welcome. There’s also a lecture, yes, a lecture, that’s creating a buzz, at least downtown, “The Hundred Guilder Print“, 5 p.m., Boliou 104, Carleton College campus, “Movement, the Camera and the Creative Process“, 7 p.m., Dittman Center, Wagner/Bundgaard Studio One, St. Olaf College campus, “The Ghost Town of Lewiston“, starring a downtown favorite, Marion Hvistendahl, 7 p.m., Northfield Historical Society, 408 Division Street, Karaoke, 7 p.m., Froggy Bottoms, 305 South Water Street, Mark Mraz, at The Tavern Lounge, riverside of The Archer House, 212 Division Street and extended hours until 9 p.m. for 14 Artists Small Functional Ceramics at ArtOnWater Gallery, 217 South Water Street.

Then Friday, January 30th, there’s the Carleton Convocation by David McMillen, a nationally recognized expert on the Freedom of Information Act and confidentiality of information collected by the government on individuals and businesses, somewhat of an art form and certainly a part of the culture here in Northfield, 10:50 to 11:50 a.m., Skinner Chapel, Carleton Campus, yes, I am a groupie of Occasional Jazz, 5 to 7 p.m., The Contented Cow, 302B Division Street, a movie: “The Midnight Meat Train“, 7:00 and 10:00 p.m., Viking Theater, Buntrock Commons, St. Olaf College, One Act Plays, Northfield High School Auditorium, 1400 Division Street South, Mark Mraz, 8:30 p.m., Froggy Bottoms, Karaoke, 9 p.m., The Rueb-N-Stein, and local talent Mark Grundhoefer, on acoustic guitar, The Tavern Lounge.

Finally, on Saturday, January 31st, there’s a Foosball Tournament, 1 p.m., Fieldhouse, 620 South Water Street, One Act Plays, 7:30 p.m., High School Auditorium, Prudence Johnson/Dan Chouinard singing Gershwin and Carmichael, 7:30 p.m., First United Church of Christ, 300 Union Street, Sweet Jazz, featuring Christina Schwietz, Peter Webb, David Miller, and Christy Moors, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., The HideAway, 421 Division Street, Karaoke, 9 p.m., Fieldhouse, DJ Music, 9 p.m., The Rueb-N-Stein, and, only in Northfield, Norwegian Cowboy at the Tavern Lounge.

The NDDC’s E R Team continued its forward progress on the issue of high commercial property taxes with another visit to the State Legislature. The group once again met with Representatives David Bly and Paul Marquart, as well as their staff of tax and legislation experts, to detail the legislative proposal and strategy for the current session.

The bill discussed will offer state property tax relief to commercial buildings at least fifty years old, located in older commercial districts in towns of under 40,000 throughout Greater Minnesota. As the professionals draft the legislation, we are calculating its potential benefits for downtown Northfield.

By pursuing such a policy, the NDDC believes that the State of Minnesota will take a significant and meaningful step toward protecting and increasing economic vitality in Greater Minnesota. This legislation will help assure that older commercial districts continue to contribute to the health and vitality of our communities, support the retention and recruitment of residents and businesses, and help maintain the quality of life in the small towns and cities throughout the state of Minnesota.

We again thank Representatives Bly and Marquart for all their work on this matter. They have brought light to a long-time issue and hope to long-time advocates in downtown Northfield.

It’s another weekend full of potential in downtown Northfield. There’s even a couple of events that I found completely unexpected.

Friday, January 23rd, it’s “Winter Words” – juried local writers reading their own work, 7 p.m., Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division Street. Arrive a little early and check out “Beyond Words” Paintings by Fred Somers. There’s Karaoke, 9 p.m., The Rueb-N-Stein, 503 Division Street, Jeff Ray, The Tavern Lounge, riverside of The Archer House, 212 Division Street, and Carey Langer, The Contented Cow, 302B Division Street.

Saturday, January 24th, there’s a Norwegian Horseshoe Tournament, 1 p.m., at the Fieldhouse, 620 Water Street. Now, I hope that this doesn’t sound like a pot shot at Ole and Lena, but being a spectator at a Norwegian Horseshoe Tournament sounds a little dangerous…hey, maybe that’s why they wear those funny hats. Then there’s the Northfield High School Music Ensembles Concert, 7:30 p.m., Middle School Auditorium, Karaoke, 9 p.m., Fieldhouse (the Norwegians will be certainly be singing by then), DJ Music, 9 p.m., The Rueb-N-Stein, Spruce Top Review at The Contented Cow, and Relativity at the Tavern Lounge.

Sunday, January 25th, there’s a Pancake Breakfast (yeah, I consider it to be a cultural event), 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., VFW, 518 Division Street. Then, of course, it’s Quiz Night, 4 p.m., Politics and a Pint, 6 p.m., and Northern Roots Session, 7:30 p.m., all at The Contented Cow.

Last Wednesday, about fifty people braved the sub-zero temperatures to show up at the historic Grand Event Center and share their ideas for supporting In-fill and Redevelopment in Northfield. The group included members of the Northfield Economic Development Authority (EDA), the Chamber of Commerce, the Planning Commission and the City Council, as well as a number of local business people and property owners and interested citizens.

The session was the third in a series of work sessions initiated by the NDDC, and supported by the EDA, the Chamber and the NEC, to focus attention and energy on using existing property resources in Northfield for economic development. The broad goals included filling empty or enhancing underutilized spaces, retaining growing businesses, supporting redevelopment projects, and attracting new businesses.

The attendees added items to the lists of Market Characteristics, Assets, Obstacles and Action Steps. In addition, they identified action steps as Urgent and Important, and made initial suggestions about what their group might do to support this effort.

In all, there were over 100 ideas offered. In the area of urgent and important action steps, there were many related to marketing and events, including continuing collaborative efforts, better understanding our market, creating a website that focuses on marketing Northfield to businesses, and implementing ideas that generate more customer traffic for our retailers.

There were also quite a few ideas related to Northfield “Economic Development Toolbox”, the menu of available programs that support existing and secure new businesses, including adding useful tools and enhancing existing ones. As promised at the Open House, the Economic Development Partners will be meeting next week to discuss these, and other, priority action steps.

Thank you to all who joined us for, and participated in, the In-fill and Redevelopment Open House.