By DEBRA HAIGHT
BUCHANAN – New economic development efforts are underway in the city of Buchanan including a new partnership between the city and the Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce.
Economic development has been a key focus of Buchanan city officials in recent months with new programs outlined to bring more business and visitors into the city. Efforts shifted into high gear after last fall’s announcement from Reader’s Digest naming Buchanan “the nicest place to live” in the United States.
The newest effort involves the city and the chamber. The two entities have agreed to partner to create a new position that will serve both the city and the local business community. The Chamber Executive Director/Main Street Manager will be responsible for creating and managing projects for both the city and the chamber.
A chamber press release last week stated that by joining forces and resources for this role, the Chamber and the City are hopeful this new position will streamline the objectives and desires of both groups to encourage economic growth and development in Buchanan and provide greater support for the existing business community.
Having one person in the dual role will also allow for greater collaboration to ensure that more companies will look to Buchanan as a place to start or relocate a business. “The ideal candidate for this position will effectively ‘tell the story’ of Buchanan and encourage others to join in on the next level of revitalization and growth,” the release stated.
“It’s an exciting time in our town and we want to capitalize on the buzz about Buchanan by joining forces with the City to offer a competitive position that will attract top talent and keep us moving forward with the shared goals of nurturing our current businesses and attracting new ones,” Chamber President Fran Terry said. “The Chamber and City have a great working relationship and we believe a common vision will serve the interests of both groups and our residents.”
Buchanan Community Development Director Richard Murphy agreed. “Buchanan is at a tipping point,” he said.
“Investors that typically look at places like New Buffalo and Three Oaks are now looking at Buchanan. Buchanan is a new economic frontier. Now is the perfect time for the City and the Chamber to come together to create a new chapter of economic prosperity in Buchanan.”
The position is currently posted on the City’s website and candidates will be evaluated by a panel of representatives from both groups with a desire to fill the role as soon as possible. Any questions regarding the position may be directed to City Manager, Heather Grace, at hgrace@cityofbuchanan.com.
As described on the Buchanan city website, the person hired will be employed by the city and under the supervision of the city manager and the community development director. Additional direction and oversight will be provided in an advisory capacity by the chamber board of directors. The salary has been set at $45,000 and benefits will be provided.
One of the key roles for the person hired will be to prepare the city to join the Michigan Main Street Program. The job description for this new position states that “formal engagement and acceptance” into the Michigan Main Street Program “will ultimately be expected” with the person hired expected to perform all the tasks necessary to achieve that goal.
City officials and community leaders had discussed joining the Michigan Main Street Program off and on in the last 10 years as a way to promote economic development but hadn’t followed through.
City leaders were held back from joining Michigan Main Street for a number of reasons. They didn’t have a full-time Downtown Development director at the time and they were unsure whether DDA members and other volunteers had the time to do all the steps that the program required.
Besides hiring someone to fill this new position, city leaders have undertaken other efforts to foster economic development. Those efforts include creating a social district in the downtown to promote local restaurants and encourage business. So far, one local restaurant has agreed to take part and another has expressed interest.
Murphy also reported last month that he’s finalizing the paperwork to implement a new “developer’s toolkit” with programs to offer businesses economic development incentives to locate or expand in the city. He mentioned a number of incentives such as low interest loans and grants for façade and other improvements.
Some of the new economic development efforts are being made possible by the marijuana revenue the city has received from the state, an amount that totaled $84,000, as well as the federal stimulus dollars the city expects to get.
In recent months, Murphy has outlined a number of uses for those funds including new economic development incentives, a Buchanan video series, marketing and promotion, the “See the River” initiative, establishing a blight task force and making Mill Alley improvements.
Efforts have also been aided with the partnership this winter and spring with Andrews University architecture students. Students used Buchanan as their project for the spring semester, met with community leaders and developed “A Vision for Buchanan” with recommendations for changes the city can make to attract new businesses.
Murphy said last week that the vision developed by the Andrews students will help the city “build the Buchanan brand”. “It captures the spirit of our community coming together to forge A Vision for Buchanan and also tells a compelling story about one of the great small American towns that is actively working to become a better place,” he said.
People can see some of the Andrews students’ work in a YouTube video at https://youtu.be/xqfrg2ynfMI and at the website they set up at www.nicestplacetowalk.com.
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