Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership

Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership

2010Annual Report

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2011 Boardof Directors

Contact us:207 N. Main St.

Fond du Lac, WI 54935920-921-9500

www.downtownfdl.com

Amy HansenExecutive [email protected]

Amber WiebelhausDirector of Marketing and Special Events

[email protected]

Tracy ReinhardtAdministrative Assistant

[email protected]

PRESIDENTSam Meyer, State Farm Insurance/ Red Brick Inn

PAST PRESIDENTJoe Tasch, The Nielsen Company

SECRETARYLiv Moyer, Set in Ink, LLC

TREASURERDave Schneider, MAG Giddings and Lewis

Tom Deitte, Edith’s Bridal and Tuxedo JunctionMark Hopper, Hopper’s Silk Screening and

All Star TrophyMitch Kahl, Jackson Kahl InsuranceLouie Lange, The Commonwealth CompaniesKevin Miller, Windhover Center for the ArtsLynn Wehner, Hometown BankJasen Wise, JR’s Sports Bar and Grill

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSJoe Reitemeier, Fond du Lac Area Association

of CommerceBrett Traver, Fond du Lac County Economic

Development CorporationWayne Rollin, City of Fond du Lac

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A Letter from the PresidentIt’s an exciting time to do business in Downtown Fond du Lac! As the incoming Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership (DFP) President, I look forward to coming together with our downtown community members on a more personal basis and to continue working with our volunteers, who are the heart and soul of the DFP. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank outgoing President Joe Tasch for his dedication and commitment to the DFP. Joe has been a great representative of the downtown, and I hope to continue that legacy.

There are several key initiatives that we will be focusing on in 2011. First and foremost is formalizing our approach to downtown business recruitment. Helping build and retain the businesses we have downtown while recruiting new businesses will be job number one! This issue has become much more important during these challenging economic times. To aid us in this endeavor, the DFP and City of Fond du Lac have adopted the Downtown Development Plan to provide a roadmap for future growth and business attraction.

Downtown events will continue to be an important component of our work. We look forward to a new event in April, Sassy Soiree, a women’s get-a-way weekend. Past successful events will continue; Farmer’s Market, Chili Crawl, Sidewalk Sale, and of course Fondue Fest to name a few. All these events help attract thousands of people to our downtown each year. It’s my personal hope that additional, high attendance events can be implemented for our downtown.

We have experienced some improvements to the downtown since we’ve last met. The third and final leg of the downtown sidewalk replacement has been completed, the Downtown Development Plan has been adopted, and new businesses have opened. We’ve also seen new life brought back to one of our downtown jewels, with the upgrades and addition to the YMCA. 2011 will bring a greater DFP presence downtown with the addition of a full-time employee to help focus on events. Our DFP Director will still be involved with events, but the new full-time position will allow the DFP Director more time dedicated to economic development initiatives.

The DFP is fortunate to have cooperative relationships with both the City of Fond du Lac and Fond du Lac County. We are grateful to the city and county associates who participate and bring their expertise to the DFP committees. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow business and property owners for their continued support of the DFP. I truly believe a rising tide lifts all boats and if we can help each other succeed in 2011 and beyond, then we all benefit and so does our greater community. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance to you in 2011 and remember to tell a friend to shop, dine, play or stay in Historic Downtown Fond du Lac…an exciting place to do business!

Sam Meyer, President Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership

2010 Friend of Downtown Fond du Lac Joe Tasch The DFP would like to extend special thanks to Joe Tasch for his sustained commitment to the organization and its ideals.

Joe has recently completed a two-year term as President of the Board of Directors. Joe’s clear-headed and common sense approaches to issues have kept the partnership moving steadily forward, raising the profile of the DFP, and through his leadership, giving additional credibility to the organization. He was instrumental in the lobbying efforts to increase funding through both Fond du Lac City Council and Fond du Lac County Board.

Joe continues to serve on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Design Committee, and Downtown Fond du Lac Project Management Team.

2010 Design of the Year Fond du Lac Family YMCA With the removing of the 1960’s original building, along with the decades of multiple additions and remodels, the new Fond du Lac YMCA has evolved into a beautiful modern facility of 112,000 square feet that allow all the functions of Fond du Lac Boy’s and Girl’s Club to blend together with our Fond du Lac YMCA.

The building’s simple, yet stylish materials provide a wonderful balanced combination of concrete, metal and glass through-out, which is striking, yet warm and inviting. This new building is a true testament to our community’s commitment, which has allowed our YMCA to be a trend setting facility that is being emulated by other communities across the United States.

The building is truly a wonderful example of continued community support that Fond du Lac has seen through out the years - a facility for all of the community to use, right here in our downtown.

We congratulate the YMCA staff and Board of Directors on the successful completion of this project.

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National Accreditation The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Center.

Each year, the National Trust and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street Four-Point Approach methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings.

The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by Wisconsin Main Street, which works in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet 10 performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four-Point Approach to commercial district revitalization.

Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operation budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving historic buildings.

DowntownAchievementAwards

Community Partnership Award The DFP was the recipient of a Community Partnership Award from the Fond du Lac Police Department in recognition of supporting their mission.

In 2010, the DFP purchased a bicycle for the Bike Patrol and provided funding for additional police patrols on weekend evenings during the summer months. The purchase of the bike allows police officers to ride from April through October as an alternative to patrolling in squad cars. This allows officers to proactively patrol downtown, congested areas, special events and problem areas in the city. Bike Patrol Officers are deployed at all times of the day and are not limited to any area of the city. If there is a known neighborhood problem, Bike Patrol can be used to conduct covert operations or, in some cases, simply let their presence be known. In addition, Bike Patrol allows for more direct interaction with citizens of the community. The Bike Patrol reinforces the efforts of becoming a bicycle friendly area.

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2010 in Review

Special EventsEach year the DFP dedicates a large amount of time to creating, planning, and executing downtown events. Bringing in $1.8 million and 60,000 visitors, the year’s events appealed to a wide range of people and positively impacted the image, vitality, and economy of downtown. The success of the 2010 events could not have happened without the hard work of our many volunteers and the gracious contributions from our sponsors and supporters.

Farmers Market - With over 65 vendors, Saturday’s Farmers Market was a weekend destination from May through October. Vendors supplied Fond du Lac residents with fresh fruits and vegetables, plants and flowers, tasty baked goods, and unique arts and crafts. The market has grown so much in size through the years that in 2010 the DFP hired an on-site manager. The manager was able to regulate the daily operations of the Saturday market and keep in constant contact with the DFP, communicating any concerns vendors may have had. Wednesday’s Farmers Market hosted 35 vendors in Hamilton Park. The afternoon market steadily increased with market shoppers throughout the season. Farmers Market vendors also participated in Sidewalk Sale and Fondue Fest, adding a nice mix to the Main Street events.

Sidewalk Sale - A tradition dating back to the 1970’s, Sidewalk Sale was as popular as ever. With guest attendance up from the previous year, the streets were bustling with shoppers. 55 downtown businesses participated in this event and offered huge savings and great deals.

As I finish my two-year term as DFP Board President, I am very proud of the organization’s growth and the progress that we have made during the past several years. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the work of our dedicated DFP staff, board members, committee members and volunteers, all of who made my job much easier and very enjoyable. I am confident that our incoming president, Sam Meyer, will continue to lead the DFP Board in a positive direction, and am proud to have him as my successor.

Just a few of the more notable areas of progress made in 2010 included the following:

• Approval of the Downtown Plan

• Completion of the Vision Plan for downtown

• Formation of the Project Management Team (PMT), a new development division of the DFP

• Increase in 2011 DFP city funding to $40,000

• Approval of a 2011 countywide façade grant program totaling $45,000

Finally, a special note of thanks to Joan Pinch and Gary Ott for their many years of dedicated service to the DFP. Each served six years as board members and their commitment to the success of the DFP should not be understated. Joan and Gary were an asset to the Partnership and will continue to be positive role models for the downtown community.

Joe Tasch, Board President 2009-2010 Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership

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Fondue Fest - Despite clouds and cooler temps, Fondue Fest proved to be the most popular event of the year. With over 100 vendors from all over the state, attendees had much to taste, see, watch, and buy. Three stages caught the attention of an estimated 20,000 festival-goers. With a variety of music, performances, live demonstrations, and a Kid’s Zone, there was something for everyone. Over 80 downtown businesses took to the streets, offering merchandise, information, food and beverages. 20 businesses took part in the basket tour, which had over 500 participants. Moraine Park Technical College Culinary Arts students delighted the taste buds of the crowd with their cheese and chocolate fondue.

Monster March - Little ghost and goblins trick-or-treated up and down Main Street in October. 20 businesses handed out candy to over 800 kids.

Home for the Holidays - Holiday cheer was alive in downtown starting in November. The first weekend of the month downtown businesses hosted a special shopping experience featuring hors d’oeuvres, refreshments and holiday gift ideas. In December, the 2nd annual Chili Crawl attracted 89 participants. Crawlers voted for their top three choices after tasting 11 different chilies made by downtown businesses. Taking first place was the Ramada Plaza Hotel, followed by second place winner, JJC Flooring & Design Center, third place belonged to Main Exchange. A reindeer corral and horse-drawn carriage rides captured the attention of all ages.

Experience Downtown In early 2010, the DFP was approached with a great opportunity to partner with Action Reporter Media. The plan was to create a publication exclusively highlighting downtown businesses, and in less than one year Experience Downtown has steadily grown in popularity. Published every third Sunday of the month, Experience Downtown has been a great way of sharing the unique businesses of downtown. The featured articles provide information about the retail, entertainment & dining, and service industries; along with a full events calendar and advertisements solely dedicated to downtown businesses. Working with Action Reporter Media has been a great experience, and the DFP looks forward to the continued partnership.

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Downtown Fond du LacProject Management Team:Joe Braun (Chair), Fond du Lac Area Foundation Amy Hansen, Downtown Fond du Lac PartnershipJim Hubbard, Fond du Lac Arts CouncilKevin Miller, Fond du Lac Arts Council Joe Reitemeier, Fond du Lac Area Association of

Commerce Wayne Rollin, City of Fond du LacJoe Tasch, Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership Brett Traver, Fond du Lac County Economic

Development Corporation

Advisory Members Al Buechel, Fond du Lac CountyTom Herre, City of Fond du LacBrenda Hicks-Sorensen, Fond du Lac County

Economic Development CorporationJohn St. Peter, Edgarton, St. Peter, Petak, &

Rosenfeldt Law Offices

Advisory CouncilKen Hall, Fond du Lac Public LibraryAlan Hathaway, BrownBoots Interactive Dick Kleinfeldt, MAG Giddings & Lewis (retired)Louie Lange, The Commonwealth CompaniesTom Meiklejohn, Tom Meiklejohn, AIA, ArchitectJay Patel, Ramada Plaza HotelJoan Pinch, Ramada Plaza Hotel Mike Shedivy, Mercury Marine Gary Smith, CD Smith ConstructionAdam Stone, National Exchange Bank & TrustJim Thomas, Society InsuranceJeff Zuelsdorf, Destination One Travel

In 2010, the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership, in conjunction with the Fond du Lac Arts Council undertook a vision and planning project for the Greater Fond du Lac Arts and Entertainment District. The vision plan builds on the recommendations of the Downtown Development Plan that was adopted by the City of Fond du Lac in February of 2010. The plan recommends the creation of three distinct districts, which include:

• Arts and Entertainment District – This district is currently comprised of downtown arts and entertainment uses including the Windhover Center for the Arts, Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Public Library, and the Historic Ramada Plaza Hotel. This district also includes several underutilized and vacant properties including the Historic Retlaw Theater Complex. The vision for this district is to have a thriving environment filled with entertainment, dining and shopping options during both daytime and nighttime hours.

• North Gateway District - This district, which includes the area of Main Street between Johnson and Merrill, is the north entrance to downtown. The district includes a mix of underutilized properties and inconsistent design. The vision for this district is a cohesive mix of high traffic businesses blended with an appealing streetscape to establish a welcoming atmosphere as consumers and visitors enter the downtown.

• River Walk District – This district is adjacent to Hamilton Park and the Fond du Lac River, which runs through downtown. One of the concepts for this district is to redevelop and define properties for family and residential uses taking advantage of the proximity to the newly expanded YMCA.

The purpose of the vision plan is to create a compelling, market-driven and implementable vision for downtown Fond du Lac with a focus on creating a vibrant Arts & Entertainment District that can be the cultural “epicenter” for the community and the region.

Building a Vision for Downtown

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Project Objectives1. Create a vibrant Arts & Entertainment District as

the focal point and economic anchor for Downtown Fond du Lac.

2. Identify redevelopment opportunities and potential uses for the Arts & Entertainment District, the North Gateway District and the River Walk District that will attract more people and businesses, create jobs and increase tax base.

3. Provide opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to start creative, arts-focused businesses.

4. Offer new, affordable housing choices for artists, creative people and others who want to enjoy the excitement of living downtown.

5. Promote historic preservation and environmentally friendly design approaches.

6. Improve downtown destination character and “curb appeal” through thoughtful streetscaping, landscaping, signage and attractive storefront and building designs.

7. Improve circulation and access for the downtown with a focus on creating a safe and attractive pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment.

Community InvolvementThe process to develop the plan was very public and community oriented. The Advisory Council, made up of community stakeholders convened in January 2010 for work sessions, tours and discussion. A three-day immersion workshop was held in February with a retreat, community forum, focus groups, one-on-one interviews and steering committee meeting. In April, a presentation was made to a community vision forum. Now that the vision and plan have been developed, the community and volunteer involvement will continue through implementation of each piece of the plan. This will involve the artist community, performing arts community, downtown business community, and the business community at large. The implementation team has regular meetings scheduled and will approach projects in a methodical way, as well as an opportunistic way, in accordance with how opportunities present themselves and when funding is available.

Sustainability StatementThe project is being overseen by a team including representatives from the City of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County, the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC), the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce, the Fond du Lac Arts Council, the Fond du Lac Area Foundation and the business community. There is great passion and ownership/commitment to this project on the part of the members of the implementation committee. Due to the nature of some of the projects, this vision and plan will be long term and ongoing, but it is believed that it will gain momentum when positive results are apparent in the downtown.

Sources of FundingPlans for continued funding of the Downtown Fond du Lac Vision Plan project include additional grant applications to state, regional and private sources, and a local fundraising campaign within the community. Currently grant applications have been approved by:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation - $160,000 with a local match of $40,000 from the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership for Main Street streetscape enhancements.

• Alliant Energy Foundation - $3,000 for general funding for the Project Management Team initiatives.

• City of Fond du Lac Redevelopment Authority - $21,600 in 2010 and $20,000 in 2011 to fund consulting and design services.

A local fundraising effort will be undertaken to encourage investment by local businesses and individuals. Funding is currently needed for business recruiting, part time administrative assistance, operations, consulting, design services, grant writing, marketing, advertising, and local match for grants.

To view the Downtown Fond du Lac Vision Plan in it’s entirety, visit www.downtownfdl.com.

Ready, set, DEVELOP.Downtown Fond du Lac – Where partnerships & opportunities meet.

With a collaborative public and private community base that has committed to major downtown investments, now is the time to make Fond du Lac your next business venture location.

■ Newly completed downtown vision plan: Arts & Entertainment District Gateway District Riverwalk District

■ Population base of 3 million within an hour’s drive

■ $30 million in recent investments

To schedule a tour or for more information, contact:

Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership 920.921.9500

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Welcome to Downtown New businesses are vital to a downtown’s growth and development. In 2010 the DFP’s organization committee welcomed four new businesses to downtown. Each new business was visited by members of the committee and given a welcome bag filled with gifts from other downtown businesses. This helps the new businesses feel welcome and introduces them to a network of great businesses.

Core ProgramsMission To establish a diverse prosperous and healthy district that is the social, commercial and cultural heart of the community.

VisionDowntown Fond du Lac will be a local and regional destination that will serve as the cultural and economic hub of the city and surrounding areas. Our financially successful downtown will present a clean, safe and friendly environment that has broad appeal.

Downtown Fond du Lac will have an atmosphere that is welcoming, comfortable and enjoyable through its attention to historic preservation, restoration and development. Downtown will include a healthy and unique mix of businesses, including retail, professional services, dining and entertainment. The downtown’s streetscape will be modern and well cared for, while at the same time paying homage to its heritage.

The public will have great awareness of all that downtown Fond du Lac has to offer, and the community will support efforts to maintain a high quality of life for residents, businesses and other stakeholders.

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BID Assessment (58%)

City Contribution (12%)

Events (17%)

Grants (13%)

Revenues

Operations (47%)

Events (19%)

Marketing (6%)

Beautification (1%)

Economic Development (17%)

Grant Programs (9%)

Organization (1%)

Expenses

Adopt-a-Block and Adopt-a-PlanterFor several years the DFP design committee has kicked-off every spring with the Adopt-a-Block and Adopt-a-Planter program. 2010 proved to be another successful year recruiting over 50 planter adopters and over 20 block adopters. Filling planters with flowers, greenery and festive décor added a great amount of beautification to the downtown. Block adopters helped keep the streets clean of trash and debris assisting in a healthy downtown environment. Adopters play a key role in ensuring the downtown looks its best. The effort put forth by downtown businesses is commendable and shows throughout the downtown.

The Retail Incentive FundThe Retail Incentive Fund is a program designed to encourage new businesses to relocate or expand into downtown Fond du Lac. Funds can be used for architecture and engineering costs, purchase of furniture, fixtures or equipment, and inventory.

To date, $8,000 has been granted to downtown businesses. In 2010, Fond du Lac Seafood Company was the recipient of the grant to help fund business expansion, which now includes takeout food service.

The Facade Grant ProgramThe DFP created the Façade Grant Program in 2000. The program grants properties up to $2,000 in matching funds for the purpose of renovation, maintenance, preservation, and beautification to exteriors of businesses. Projects include simple sign replacement to major façade renovations.

To date, 100 properties have received grants totaling more than $110,000, which has leveraged over $800,000 in property improvement projects.

In 2010, the DFP was successful in lobbying the Fond du Lac County Board for additional funding for this program. In 2011, $45,000 has been allocated to be used countywide in any central business district.

To see a few of the many properties this program has helped support, please visit www.downtownfdl.com.

2010 Façade Grant Award Recipients Cutter Vac Electric Beach Hopper’s Silk Screening & All Star Trophy Main Exchange Steve Awve (47 N. Main) Angie Bingen (25 & 29 N. Main) Quin Schneider (44 N. Main)

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Events CommitteeJoan Pinch (Chair), The Ramada Plaza HotelKollin Adickes, Children’s Museum of Fond du LacBrian Carter, Fond du Lac Seafood CompanyJulia Cartwright, Fond du Lac Public LibrarySara Cujak, Cujak’s Wine Market & Wine BarRon Cutter, Cutter VacTom Deitte, Edith’s Bridal and Tuxedo JunctionKevin Edelfson, The GardenLiz Engh, Action Reporter MediaRon Emanuel, The GoldsmithJack Francis, Team SportsLori Garbisch, Volunteer ExtraordinaireKen Hall, Fond du Lac Public LibraryKim Laws, Radio PlusLee Ann Lorrigan, Agnesian HealthcareTracy Mathweg, Lillian’sKevin Miller, Windhover Center for the ArtsLisa Pauly, Fond du Lac Convention & Visitor’s BureauKirsten Quam, Fox Valley Savings BankKatie Rusch, The Goldsmith Anne Schaefer, Mountain Dog MediaDave Schneider, MAG Giddings & LewisDave Thiel, Associated BankJeff Thorn, Time Warner CableAngelina Triscari, The Ramada Plaza HotelMary Weishapple, Promotions with PizzazzAndrea Welsch, Children’s Museum of Fond du LacJulie Wilson, Shut Up and Dance! Brendan Wood-Taylor, Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac

Organization CommitteeLiv Moyer (Chair), Set in Ink, LLCDave Langholff, Langholff Chiropractic & WellnessRebecca Lunde-Ross, Advance AmericaRandy Mittelstaedt, National Exchange Bank & TrustTina Potter, The United Way of Fond du LacPhil Shepherd, Shepherd Law OfficesJudy Urben, Moraine Park Technical College

Marketing CommitteeKirsten Quam (Chair), Fox Valley Savings BankDorothy Bliskey, Bliskey Writing ServicesLiz Engh, Action Reporter MediaLisa Pauly, Fond du Lac Convention & Visitor’s BureauJoan Pinch, The Ramada Plaza HotelMary Weishapple, Promotions with PizzazzJulie Wilson, Shut Up and Dance!

Design Review BoardSteve Schoofs (Chair), Excel EngineeringGeoff Bares, United Service AppraisalsPatrick Creed, Botanicals Floral StudioJoellyn Dahlin, City of Fond du LacTom Meiklejohn, Tom Meiklejohn, AIA, ArchitectSam Meyer, State Farm Insurance/ Red Brick InnKevin Miller, Windhover Center for the ArtsJohn Papenheim, Papenheim Sign Crafters

Design CommitteeSteve Schoofs (Chair), Excel EngineeringSteve Klein, Fond du Lac Police DepartmentDennis Malchow, St. Joseph’s Book RoomSam Meyer, State Farm Insurance/ Red Brick InnJohn Papenheim, Papenheim Sign CraftersWayne Rollin, City of Fond du LacJoe Tasch, The Nielsen CompanyBen Wehner, Wisconsin Title CompanyBill Weinshrott, Fond du Lac County Historical Society

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We couldn’t succeed without you!

Community PartnershipsAgnesian HealthCare City of Fond du Lac Public Works Dept. City of Fond du Lac Community Development Dept. City of Fond du Lac Fire Dept. City of Fond du Lac Parks Dept. City of Fond du Lac Police Dept. Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Fond du Lac Economic Development Corporation Fond du Lac County Parks Dept. Fond du Lac Public Library Marian University Hockey Team Moraine Park Technical College

Special Event SponsorsAction Reporter Media Alliant Energy BrownBoots Interactive C.F. Power Chase Bank Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac CitizensFirst Credit Union Communication Electronics Cujak’s Wine Market & Wine Bar Edith’s Bridal Edward Jones Fond du Lac Public Library Fox Valley Savings Bank Gallery and Frame Shop Gold Star Tours Grande Cheese Hopper’s Silk-screening & All Star Trophy JR’s Sports Bar and Grill Jackson Kahl Insurance MAG Giddings & Lewis KFIZ / Mountain Dog Media National Exchange Bank & Trust New Vision Signs, Decals & Screen-printing Quad Graphics The Ramada Plaza Hotel Rosendale Dairy The Garden The Goldsmith The Nielsen Company US Bank Waste Management Windhover Center for the Arts

2011 marks our 12th year as an organized Business Improvement District and our 7th year as a Wisconsin Main Street Community. As a non-profit organization, the DFP relies heavily on a committed group of volunteers to carry out our goals. We are very fortunate as a community to have so many people who care and continue to donate their time to our organization.

We thank the many community public and private agencies that provide in-kind services to the DFP. We appreciate the companies and organizations that see value in supporting downtown special events. We could not carry out our mission without your support.

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Downtown Conference The Wisconsin Downtown Action Council has selected Fond du Lac to host the 2011 Downtown Conference. We will have the opportunity to showcase our downtown to other downtown professionals when we host the conference October 19-20. In conjunction with the conference, Wisconsin Main Street will also be hosting a director’s workshop on October 19.

New for 2011

The downtown transformation that has been occurring in recent years has helped to elevate visibility and awareness of all we have to offer. Downtown’s art, culture, built environment, the variety of things to do, unique businesses and aesthetic surroundings play a central role in Fond du Lac’s health and well being as a city. Our downtown has a personality and an atmosphere that attracts individuals looking for that unique and authentic experience that cannot be found anywhere else.

In 2011, we will remain focused on the many initiatives that enhance our community’s quality of life, most notably on the implementation of the vision plan for downtown Fond du Lac. We have developed a business recruitment initiative that will focus on entertainment related businesses. The design work for new banners and new parking signage is currently underway. We will continue to broaden our downtown marketing campaign and will bring many opportunities for businesses to integrate the “Come Together” tagline in their advertising and business operations. The DFP website will continue to be a central information source for all that is happening downtown.

We are striving to continually improve the district that serves as the cultural and economic hub of the city. Our existing businesses are important to us and we are working to provide an environment that enables our downtown businesses to thrive. Downtown IS a great place to start and grow your business.

Amy Hansen, Executive Director Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership

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© 2010 Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership

Where & meet.diningshoppingRetail and restaurant listings online. www.downtownfdl.com

2011 Special Events:

Sidewalk Sale • July 9

Fondue Fest • Sept 10

Holiday Open House Weekend • Nov 11-13

Home for the Holidays • Dec 3

Come Together Adver-tising CampaignBrought to the forefront in 2009, the DFP realized there was a need for a consistent branding strategy. Part of the branding goal has been to establish downtown Fond du Lac as a destination location, capitalizing on what makes downtown special. This year the DFP Marketing Committee looked to further integrate the ‘Come Together’ campaign. The collaboration be-tween the Marketing Committee and BrownBoots pro-duced the first in a series of two new advertisements, uniting family and fun, shopping and dining.

Shining Star CampaignThis year the DFP is kicking-off the Shining Star 2011 campaign to light the biggest tree in Veteran’s Park during the holidays. Many of the trees are lit, but the goal focuses on lighting “Santa’s Tree” with LEDs, the highest quality of lights, for the Christmas season. To do this we will need help from the community. This campaign will be based solely on contributions from the community, area businesses, organizations, service groups, and our military branches. The DFP has set a goal of $5,000 and will kick off the campaign at Sidewalk Sale July 9.

Sassy Soirée Sassy Soirée, A Women’s Getaway Weekend, will be the newest event for 2011. Premiering April 8-10, Friday night will host Dish of Downtown at the Ramada Plaza Hotel Crystal Ballroom. Downtown businesses will have the opportunity to showcase their products while women enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Ambush makeovers, provided by Texture Salon and Lillians, will add to the women’s night atmosphere. Sassy Saturday has downtown businesses offering classes, demonstrations, and mini events exclusively for Sassy Soirée participants. Saturday night features a concert held at Windhover Center for the Arts.

Downtown Fond du Lac’s Sassy Soirée, will join seven other cities in A Charming Connection. This program was created to regionally promote all cities and have women travel from city to city participating in “ladies night out” events.

207 N. Main St.Fond du Lac, WI 54935920-921-9500 www.downtownfdl.com