Understanding & Enacting a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) Web Discussion
Thursday, May 7th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join us for a discussion about the benefits of your city enacting a DORA with representatives from downtown programs, city council, and restaurants to help determine if this is an appropriate solution to supporting your businesses in this time of social distancing.
Solving Your Downtown Vacancies Crisis Webinar
Wednesday, April 22nd – 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Join Matt Wiederhold to learn how Main Street Medina uses targeted marketing and special events to drive the economic vitality of their district. Wiederhold will show examples of marketing pieces, business outreach plans, and how strategic partnerships within the City helped transform Medina from 13 vacancies in 2007, to 100% occupancy for the past five years.
SBA Update: Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Payroll Protection Webinar
Thursday, April 16th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Alex Kohls with the Small Business Administration, will discuss the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan, the Paycheck Protection Program, SBA Express Bridge Loans, and SBA Debt Relief. Alex will provide an overview and update of these programs, as well as answer all your questions.
Historic Tax Credits 201 Webinar
Monday, April 27th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
This is a good time to learn a little more about how the historic tax credits work in Ohio.
How do you assemble the right professional team? Who are the players in making these projects work? Join our team presentation to learn how.
In this 60-minute presentation you will meet experts in these areas and be able to ask questions.
There are no better financial incentives available. You CAN take advantage of these.
Presenters
- Chad Arfons – Attorney with McDonald Hopkins
- Alyssa McClanahan – Historic Preservation Consultant with Kunst
- Paul Nadin – Accountant with RSM US
Historic Tax Credits 101 Webinar
Monday, April 20th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
This is a good time to have a primer on how the historic tax credits work in Ohio. What are historic rehabilitation tax credits? What are they worth ?
Are you curious if these credits are the right incentive for your project?
Join our team presentation to learn how:
1. Basic qualifying – generally the most direct path is being listed on the National Register, find out if you are, if not how do you get listed? – Barbara Powers, State Historic Preservation Office
2. The 20% Federal Historic Tax Credit has been round for 40 years. – Mariangela Pfister, State Historic Preservation Office
3. The 25% Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit has been around for 13 years. – Lisa Brownell, Ohio Development Services Agency
In a quick 60-minute presentation, you will meet the people who run the program, get to know them, and be able to ask questions.
There are no better financial incentives available, you CAN take advantage of these.
Historic Tax Credits 201 will be presented the following Monday, April 27 at 1:00 pm.
How to Create an Online Experience for Your Customers to Support Your Brick and Mortar Business Webinar
Wednesday, April 8th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
We’re in unprecedented times right now and many small business owners are struggling with how to stay connected with their customers when they can’t come in to take classes or shop. But if you’ve never had a strong online presence, how do you quickly create the experience to support your customers now and into the future?
Come to this webinar to learn the first three ACTION STEPS you can take to create an online experience your customers will love. You’ll discover:
- The first question you need to ask yourself…before you start taking things online.
- How to guide your customer through an experience…and why it’s so valuable that you do.
- The essential tools you need to stay connected with your customers, in both the short and long term.
If you can set yourself up with an online presence NOW, this is something you can continue to use in the future, both to strengthen connections with your current customers and as additional offerings for revenue.
Our Speaker:
Bevin Farrand is the CEO and Head Cat Herder of Collaborate.Work, which works with small business owners, entrepreneurs, and mid-size corporations to get their ideas out the door and into the world. As the former Brand Director of Boom! by Cindy Joseph and Smart Marketer, she’s led dozens of product launches and promotions generating 20MM+ annually. She’s also developed online courses and summits, as well as executed launches for I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Evolving Wisdom, and several entrepreneurs. She is passionate about supporting her clients to create businesses that support the lives they love living.
Utilizing Economic Injury Disaster Loans Webinar
Tuesday, March 24th – 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
We know our small businesses are in crisis. The federal government has declared a national emergency related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Please join Joshua Stutzman from the US Small Business Administration as he explains who is eligible and what steps you need to take to apply for a SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
Best Practices for Downtowns in Crisis Webinar
Friday, March 20th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Our downtowns are in crisis. What can we be doing to support our downtown businesses and community residents during the pandemic?
Hear some of the top strategies being employed in our Main Street communities across Ohio.
COVID-19 Resources for Ohio Main Streets and Downtowns
Videos
- Best Practices for Downtowns in Crisis – Watch our webinar from March 20th to learn what actions are being taken in some of Ohio’s Main Street communities in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
Health Information
- State of Ohio – See the latest informational updates on the virus and find more information on the latest orders issued by the state government.
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention – Find the latest information on the virus and how to slow its spread.
Business & Community Assistance
- Small Business Administration – Find more information on business resources during the pandemic and apply for disaster loans when they become available for Ohio (check the site for the current areas of Ohio allowed to apply).
- Ohio Restaurant Association – Find resources specifically for restaurants being impacted.
- Main Street America – They have put together resources for Main Street programs to use to help their communities.
- SharedWork Ohio– SharedWork Ohio is a program through the State of Ohio to prevent layoffs.
- Ohio Chamber of Commerce– The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has several updates and resources for businesses.
Things You Can Be Doing to Help Your Community
- Do the Five
- Hands: Wash them often.
- Elbow: Cough into it.
- Face: Don’t touch it.
- Feet: Stay more than 3 ft. apart.
- Feel: Sick? Stay home.
- Check in on the vulnerable – Make sure the vulnerable populations in your community – the homeless, the elderly, those with immunity concerns – are getting the information and assistance they need.
- Organize virtual meeting spaces for businesses – We are all in this together and we need to make sure questions are being answered for the businesses that are being impacted by the pandemic.
- Share useful information on social media with your networks
- Share which restaurants are still open for pick-up and delivery.
- Share where children and their families can get food and other assistance.
- Share health-related information from verified sources only.
- Talk with your local, state, and federal elected officials – They need to hear from everyone what we need to get through this and what will be needed in the near future once the pandemic comes to an end.
- Donate Blood – The Red Cross needs blood donations now and you have a little more time on your hands. They set up a page to explain donation during this time and how you can schedule.
Organizational Fundraising
- How to Raise Revenue in Response to COVID-19 – Stansbury Consulting put together this informational sheet to help non-profits confront the challenges of fundraising during the pandemic.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding for Non-Entitlement Ohio Communities Webinar
Wednesday, March 11th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Community Development Block Grant money for non-entitlement communities is managed through the Office of Community Development at Ohio’s Development Services Agency. Money is available to help revitalize our small downtowns. The program has seen some changes, so its time to introduce or refresh your familiarity with the ground rules for using this money, and how and when to apply.
Municipal Planning & Zoning Fundamentals Webinar
Wednesday, February 12th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
In this webinar, attendees will learn about how city planning and zoning are used as practical tools for municipal governance. We will explore topics from the perspective of what local leaders need to know to effectively serve and guide a municipality, navigate codes and regulations, and promote public engagement and civil discourse. Topics will focus on real-world relevancy and prioritizing community investment in residents. The topics will include:
• Municipal governance fundamentals, plans, and codes
• Communicating with the public, participating in meetings, negotiating conflict
• Planning and zoning processes, land use, and site plan/development applications
• Highlights of additional important topics – community & economic development, community revitalization, urban design, transportation, and planning for the future.