Main Street News: March 6th

Showcase will be March 25^th from 9 am-1 pm at the Barnesville High School. At this year’s Showcase, we will again host the Kid$ in Bu$ine$$ division. It is an addition to the show in which kids can be the exhibitors.  Kids in grades 4th-12th are welcome to have a booth in which they can sell items which they have made or sell a service which they are interested in providing.

It is a chance for that young entrepreneur, that young business person, to step out into the business world and get their feet wet. Some are truly talented with the merchandise they’ve sold.  Some are very professional and have ‘grown up’ signage, flyers and display methods.  Some are naturally outgoing in personality and greet customers as they pass their booth.  ALL are excited to be doing their business and to be part of Showcase opportunity.

In past years, many kids have had booths hoping to make some money for their savings accounts or that item they have been wanting.  Who knows what products and services we will find this year.  Those attending Showcase should be on the lookout for the young entrepreneurs.  Take some special time to visit with them, ask them questions about their booth and help them learn about being a business person at the same time.

Information on having a booth has been distributed in the schools, but if you missed it, registration forms are available in my office.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call at 354-2479.  I’d be glad to give you more information.  The Showcase Committee looks forward to having a great turnout at the show this year – as Kid$ in Bu$ine$$.  

Main Street News: February 27th

Every day in our walk in life, we have the opportunity to promote Barnesville, to encourage growth of businesses, our school and our entire community. Telling people why we choose to live here, telling them about the things we enjoy about our community, telling them about the school system and about the businesses, services and organizations that we have are all qualities that we share. We do this through our business and personal interactions everywhere we go. Just mention Potato Days and everyone’s heard about Barnesville!    

This past weekend we had a huge opportunity for us to tell others our story. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, volunteers visited with interested visitors to the Barnesville Booth at the Home and Garden Show at the Fargo Dome. Many people were interested in leaving the larger communities for a small, town to raise their families. They were excited to learn more about what Barnesville has to offer and what sets us apart from the other similar size towns in the area.

The volunteers that helped tell the Barnesville story this past weekend include city council members, EDA board members, Main Street Board and committee members and residents. They all have a special interest in doing what they can to help grow Barnesville. We appreciate their generosity in giving their time and enthusiasm at the booth, but it doesn’t stop there. We need your help to continue these efforts all year long! Help us continue to share the message that Barnesville is a great place to call home! 

It’s been said, “Enthusiasm is NOT the same as being excited. One gets excited about going on a roller coaster. One becomes enthusiastic about creating and building a roller coaster.” This quote sums up the attitude of many of the volunteers for Barnesville that we work with. They are building a better Barnesville through their enthusiasm.

Main Street News: February 20th

It is no secret that doing business has changed as technology has advanced. Could you imagine going about your normal day without new technology, doing business none the less? No phone, no calculator, no computer? Think of looking something up in a book instead of doing a simple Google search. Technology these days is supposed to make life easier for us, but for some it has made it more challenging, especially when it comes to running a business. Keeping up with the newest social media platform and successful marketing efforts are things people have said they struggle with, but they know it is essential to make their business successful.

This year, the Main Street Program has gone through a total transformation. We unveiled our new logo and brand, started the Friends of Main Street Program and revamped our membership benefits. That includes our most exciting benefit of 10 hours of social media or marketing help to our gold members. We listened to our members and hope we can help them in these areas they struggle with. There are numerous tools out there to enhance and grow their business. We want to help our members take advantage of these tools and incorporate them into their business.

We are excited to help our businesses out in any way we can. But our business community needs your help as well! I know everyone has heard how important it is to shop local, but have you ask yourself “am I doing everything I can to keep my dollars in the community? Maybe it is more convenient for you to get your items up town or you think you can save a few bucks. Our businesses depend on your loyalty. Maybe you think can’t get what you need in town. I’m sure if you ask any Barnesville business if they can get that item from their store, they would be more than happy to order it in for you!

Main Street News: February 13th

It has been an exciting few weeks in the Main Street Office, especially when the mail comes! Between membership dues coming in and people signing up for Showcase, I have been busier than ever.

First off, I want to thank everyone who has already sent in their membership dues. We are so fortunate to have so many people who value their membership and know they are benefiting Barnesville through their commitment. But secondly, I want to thank the new members that have decided to join this year or move up a membership level. This has been the most exciting part, to see names of businesses and people who see the impact the Main Street Program has in Barnesville. You too should be excited about what you are doing for this community! In the past, each member received a plaque indicating they are a Main Street member. This year, each member will receive a window cling to display at their business. Please be on the lookout for these when you are making your stops around town and patronize these businesses!

Also, to those that are still considering joining I would like to encourage you to take part. If you have not been contacted and would like more information, please contact me and I would be more than happy to share the benefits of becoming a member! New this year, members also receive a 25% discount on their booth at our 25^th annual Showcase event. The Main Street program has been in existence in the Barnesville community for 26 years and continues to work very hard to promote our city as a great place to live, work and play though numerous projects and events throughout the year. Our annual membership drive helps us bring in needed revenues to continue these projects and make plans for other ways to help our community.  

If you have any questions about the Main Street Program or may be interested in becoming a member or “Friend of Main Street” for 2017, please feel free to contact me at the office by calling 354-2479 or sending an e-mail to mainstreet@bvillemn.net. Barnesville is great, but together we can make Barnesville better than ever!

Main Street News: February 6th

Although it seems like a long way away, mark your calendars for the 25^th annual Showcase event on Saturday, March 25^th from 9 am- 1 pm at the high school. It will be here before we know it! New to town or have a new business adventure? Maybe your looking to get your business some more exposure or you have a new product to launch? Showcase would be a great place for you to have a booth! We invite local businesses to showcase their products and service. Organizations are welcome as well! A booth at Showcase would be a great opportunity to answer questions or provide interested people with information about their cause. This is also an opportunity for you as a customer to visit with a business about your needs or interest in their products, as well as get more information about joining or supporting a local organization.  Because it is our 25^th annual Showcase event, we are offering 25% off the booth cost to all Main Street Members! Brochures went out late last week, but if you didn’t receive one and are interested in having a booth please call me at 354-2479 or email mainstreet@bvillemn.net.

We are hoping to have area restaurants and organizations managing food booths, set up in the old gym with lunch and treats available for you all day. We have a full slate of entertainment and an art show scheduled as well.  If your organization is looking to raise some money and interested in having a food booth, please contact me and we will get you signed up! 

Sponsored by Main Street, the Showcase brings over 1,000 local residents and visitors to see just what we have to offer.  It is also a time for us to ‘Showcase” our community.  Make plans to attend Showcase for a few hours of fun, food and activity on March 25th.

We also have a number of meal fundraisers and events to offer in our ‘small town’ over the next few weeks which will bring out many residents and visitors.

                                      February 6 – BHS Winter Band and Choir Concert

                                      February 8 – Valley Care & Rehab King and Queen Coronation

  February 11 – Thursday Nite Lions Butterfly Ball

                                      February 14 – VFW Valentine’s Day Dinner

                                      February 25 – Booster Club Girls Basketball Tournament

                                                              

Don’t hesitate to participate and support your local charities, churches and organizations. We have several opportunities to eat out (read… no dishes to wash!)  and support a local group as well.  Stop by for good fellowship and good food:  They are what makes Barnesville home to us all.

Main Street News: January 30th

If your mailbox is anything like mine, besides the usual bills, it is often filled with ‘requests’.  These are requests to support many worthwhile charities and organizations. They may be local, regional or national. I’m also guessing that like many others, your household income is already mostly designated.  The utilities, medical, insurance, car, food, church, school needs, clothing bills, etc. all need paying.  Due to the influx of requests, choosing where to spend our discretionary funds can become an exercise of investigation. We can’t and shouldn’t just give to every request. We are expected to be good stewards of our dollars and should choose wisely. We should take time to give it some thought and serious consideration.  

Of course, the direction that this is leading is for a ‘request’! That means the annual Main Street Membership Drive. Consider becoming a “Friend of Main Street”. In the past, we have had individual and couple’s memberships. We realized these levels of membership should be somewhat different than the business and organization levels, even though they are equally important. That being said, we created the new “Friends of Main Street” program. If you believe in what the Main Street Program does for our community, please consider donating $20 to our program. In addition, you will receive 2 VIP tickets to the Community Picnic in July. When giving it some thought, below are a few reasons to help you decide.

The Top 10 Reasons to become a “Friend of Main Street”.

10.  Help ‘drive’ the organization’s mission of building relationships between residents and  

       businesses

9. Support promotional events like the Showcase, Miss Barnesville Pageant, Community Picnic, Toast of the Town, Show ‘n Shine Car Shows, Rummage Sales, Golf Tournament, Miracle on Front Street activities

8.   Your contribution helps fund enhancements to beautify our town, as well as to welcome visitors and new residents

7. Name recognition at several events and in publications throughout the year

6. Evidence that you support Barnesville’s business community

5. A chance to say “I care about our community!”        

4.   Opportunities to network with other community members making new friends, and possible

      business connections for yourself

3.   Improve & increase community spirit and well- being

2. Opportunities to volunteer for programs, services and events

And the top reason to have Membership in the Main Street Program…

1. Personal investment, satisfaction and pride that you help Barnesville grow and thrive

To all of you who have invested in the Main Street Program with your dollars by becoming a member, we would like to thank you. Your support is so appreciated and needed. We couldn’t do it without your generosity. Every membership dollar counts and helps us to fulfill our responsibilities. For anyone considering membership or who would like to know more, please give me a call. I would love to share more about Main Street with you.

Membership in Main Street Program is a sign of your commitment to Barnesville and making it a better place to live and work, grow and play…Building a Better Barnesville.

Main Street News: January 23rd

The Main Street Program’s Annual meeting last Wednesday, January 18th, was a time to recognize our great volunteers and members. They each do what they can. They do so because they want to. It’s not their ‘job’ and certainly no one pays them. They do it because they know they should. Although we cannot ever begin to thank each and every one of them properly, but I do want to take time to recognize our award winners for 2016. Our Business of the Year award goes to a business that Barnesville would be lost without. In the last year, they have made quite a few improvements and never quit to provide the best for our community. They have also sponsored several Main Street events and help us out whenever we need. This year’s business of the year is Barnesville Grocery. Our Board member of the year goes to Aubree Martinez. Aubree is always jumping in to help and does it with a smile on her face. The Committee Member of the Year award goes to a Lindsay Bontjes. Lindsay has been on the Promotions Committee for too many years to count! She has been such a great asset and also serves with a smile! Our last award for the year goes to our volunteer of the year. This is always the hardest to award. We have so many great volunteers who put in so many hours. This year I made it easy. I totaled up all the volunteer hours in 2016. We had a total of 746 hours! What is even more shocking is the fact that if you times that by the national average worth of a single volunteer hour of $23.07, you would find that we totaled $17,210.22 worth of volunteering last year alone. This year that award goes to the person with the most volunteer hours, Pete Larson. Pete not only serves on the Main Street Board of Directors, but he is also on the Showcase Committee and volunteers his summer weekends to water the flowers on Front Street. Special thanks go out to each of them for their endless dedication as they give of their time and talents to be Barnesville’s Main Street Program!

At our meeting, we also were excited to unveil our new logo that has been in the works for a quite a while! Watch for it in our upcoming Main Street publications!