Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

The Board of Directors of the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) is pleased to announce that it has surpassed the goal amount of its 2007 Partnership Campaign, an annual fundraising drive. The final tally was slightly more than $32,000 (in cash receipts), the best result in the organization’s history. “The financial support of Northfield building owners, business owners and citizen donors for the NDDC continues to grow each year and for that we are grateful,” according to Joe Grundhoefer, 2007 Partnership Campaign co-chair and Vice President of the NDDC.

Grundhoefer, owner of J. Grundy’s Rueb’n'Stein, noted that Partnership funds will be used to further the mission of the NDDC, which is modeled after the Four Points of the Main Street Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Four Points are Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. Organization involves assembling the appropriate resources to maintain a strong downtown program. Promotion encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in downtown Northfield. Design means working to get downtown Northfield into top physical shape. Economic Restructuring strengthens downtown’s existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base.

The 2007 NDDC Partnership Campaign was co-chaired by Anastasia Balfany, NDDC board member and owner of The Market, an antiques retailer formally located on Division Street. Anastasia and Joe were assisted in the fundraising by the entire 12-member NDDC Board of Directors.

To learn more about the NDDC, its mission and recent activities, visit nddc.org or call 663-0319.

Here’s a scene that is a favorite for many folks at Crazy Daze, eating a Grundhoefer Burger on Division Street.

Okay, so breakfast and lunch may have passed, there’s still much more to come…

…like the Waiters’ Race along Division Street, Classic Cars “south of 5th” on Division, Pie on the Square by the Northfield News on Bridge Square, a Dance Performance by the Northfield Academy on Bridge Square, ’50s and ’60s Music by KRDS on Division Street between 5th and 6th, and Songs of Hope, co-sponsored by the Northfield Public Schools, the Northfield Rotary Club, and the Northfield News on Bridge Square.

So come on down(town) and catch some of the Crazy Daze fun before it’s “wait ’til next year”.

The following is provided by Keith Covey, NDDC Board secretary:

The April NDDC board meeting opened with the election of Mary Rossing to the board. President Dan Bergeson and other members welcomed her to her first board meeting. Mary is proprietor of Present Perfect, a Division Street gift and specialty store. She previously served as board member and president of the Northfield Historical Society.

A new Marketing and Promotion Committee was established by the board “to focus on generating more foot traffic downtown by coordinating events and advertising on behalf of the entire district.” New board member Mary Rossing and third year board member Linda Schneewind, of digs, will be co-chairs. They are recruiting other downtown business representatives to join the effort. The committee will coordinate NDDC promotions that previously were conducted by ad hoc task groups and anticipates putting new ideas to work as well. One source of new activities is expected to be the Retail Support Strategies (RSS) Task Force. That group is a joint project of the NDDC and Chamber of Commerce, with funding from the Economic Development Authority. By mid-summer, it is expected to identify new strategies for expanding retail traffic in all Northfield retail districts.

The Board agreed to cosponsor, with six downtown businesses, a new radio calendar of Northfield entertainment and cultural events on KYMN radio. It will air three times on Fridays and Saturdays.

The board is collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Northfield in campaigning for early improvement of Highway 19 between Northfield and I35. This is a high priority for the entire Northfield area. President Dan Bergeson reported to the board that he is coordinating with other groups in urging the Minnesota Department of Transportation to reschedule improvements for an earlier date than 10 to 15 years in the future, which its current schedule calls for.

Board vice president Joe Grundhoefer announced that the second “Taste of Northfield” event is scheduled for July 19 in Bridge Square. Grundhoefer is chairing the event and is recruiting local restaurants to plan and participate in the event.

Dave Shumway, Treasurer of the NDDC Board of Directors, apparently has some other job too. I guess he must perform as well at that other job as he does for the NDDC because he’s getting promoted. The buzz on the street yesterday was that Dave was moving on up from President to Chief Executive Officer at First National Bank of Northfield. That would be the bank that helped to bring down Jesse James and his gang some years ago.

I tried to catch up with Dave this morning to find out more. However, it was snowing and the CEO’s responsibilities apparently include continuing his fine work with a shovel much like the broom pictured here.

Congratulations Dave, from all your buddies at the NDDC!

In its March meeting the NDDC board set the stage for its 2007 Partnership Campaign and reviewed NDDC activities over the past month.Joe Grundhoefer, NDDC vice president and owner of J. Grundy’s Reub’n’stein, has agreed to chair the 2007 Partnership Campaign. Board members Robert Bierman, of Bierman’s Home Furnishings, and Renee Huckle, of Northfield News and Cannon Valley Printing, agreed to join Joe on the campaign committee. The committee will lead the board in carrying out the campaign during May and June. The NDDC’s financial support comes in roughly equal proportions from this annual campaign and from economic development activities to strengthen downtown that are funded by the Northfield Economic Development Authority (EDA).

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