Text Box: January/February 2008

Text Box: January/February 2008

Text Box:              The Sidney Chamber of Commerce and Ag directors mulled over who the featured speaker for this year’s annual banquet should be. They wanted the message to be pertinent and relevant to issues facing Sidney right now. Their choice of Mr. Dave Reetz as their keynote speaker could not have been more appropriate or timely.              Richland Economic Development and the Chamber receive calls daily expressing frustration and concern over the state of Sidney’s downtown business district. The closure of businesses hurts and impacts us all.              Some of the measures that we have taken to try to address this have been to host small business workshops, the launching of the new revolving loan fund, and our continual guidance to new business start up clients.    

Text Box:            Richland Economic Development is also actively involved with the Chamber to improve our downtown. So when they asked us to co-sponsor an open meeting with Dave Reetz to brain storm ways to enhance the business district, we gladly agreed.              Early on Tuesday, February 5, twenty-nine people participated in an in-depth question and answer session with this talented downtown developer. Dave was frank with his advice on how we must jump start our efforts, and don’t give up.              We had the opportunity to escort Dave

Text Box: all around Sidney.  We showed him the immediate areas of concern, the vacant lots: Thiruds, Lalonde, and Swensons. We also showed him the central school, the community services building, and the Yellowstone Mercantile. We drove along the farm to market “truck route” and we showed him the dangerous intersections.              After the tour was complete, Dave had a first hand glimpse of the unique challenges that Sidney faces with a state highway passing through the center of town.

Text Box:              At the open meeting, Dave offered his suggestions and step by step advice on how best to proceed. One of the first priorities, according to Dave, is to survey the entire business community and ask them: “What businesses, services, or products do you think that Sidney needs?”  So with this objective in mind, we are asking our membership to fill out the  brief questionnaire included with this newsletter.  We will compile this information and report it through the press.  This information will be included in the revival effort to improve Sidney’s business climate.

Text Box: Powell’s Developer Dave Reetz discusses options for the Yellowstone Mercantile building with Leslie Messer

Unrecognizable Person,Business Relationship,Sale,Handshake,Arrow Sign,Turning,Marketing,Customer,Agreement,Business,Cartoon,Standing,Design,Shiny,Symbol,Icon,Teamwork,Illustration and Painting,Men,Orange,One Person,People,Success,Talking,VectorText Box:  

Text Box:   Text Box:  

Text Box:  

Text Box:  

Powell’s Downtown Developer offers ideas

De

1

Essential Air Service

2

Revolving Loan Fund

2

Questionnaire                          

 

 

                           

3

Membership

 

 

2008 to-date

4