marketing

Organization andMembership

As an active member of the Wisconsin Mainstreet Program. We attended valu-able workshops, training sessions and this year’s National Conference to learn best practices and network with other communities while sharing the success of our community!

We expanded our membership and introduced new morning round tables to discuss important issues.

We held quarterly socials to strengthen and connect our members.

We introduced a new project based F.U.N. work group to develop placemak-ing and assist our standing committees.Check out the work in progress on F.U.N. Alley off of 5th Avenue!

Goals for the coming year: New round tables and a series of edu-cational opportunities for our members to learn and share ideas for strategic marketing, social media, facade design protecting your property investment, and more!

DMI collaborates with our community partners; The 7 Rivers Alliance, The Chamber, Explore La Crosse, LADCO, WEDC, City and County depart-ments, and non profits on various community and downtown initiatives, issues and new programs.

Quick FactsNumber of Businesses 500Number of Buildings 295Number of Storefronts 260Number of Vacant Storefronts 13% of Vacant Storefronts 5%

The Four Point

Approach

DMI increased merchant and public participation in all of our DMI events: Eat Week, The Trend Event, Spring Fling, Downtown Walk-Around, Summer Days, Historic Downtown Day, Tour of Upper Living, Trick or Treating, Holiday Open House and Small Business Saturday. We introduced a new updated website this fall and improved our social media on Face book and Instagram.

DMI collaborates with the City of La Crosse, Area Rotary Clubs, La Crosse Arts Initia-tive, Pump House Regional Arts Center, Coulee Cap, UWL and Explore La Crosse to support events and new initiatives.

A successful “Tour of Upper Living” event, nearly doubling the previous event. Interest in living downtown next to unique stores, art galleries, coffee shops, restau-rants and parks is at an all time high!

Our 2016 Trend Event was a three stop progressive event and was a huge success with attendees loving the new format. We strengthened our “Shop Small” mar-keting campaign and raised awareness of the importance of supporting small inde-pendent businesses throughout the year!

Goals for the coming year: Introduction of our Downtown Santa and Mrs. Claus to be housed in the Doerfling-er Building for the holiday season.

The creation of a new signature event to raise funds for downtown La Crosse.

Continued introduction of cooperative events that match like businesses with similar clientele base.

People PowerLogged 3,700

Volunteer Hours for a value of over

$80,000

30 New BusinessesLaunched

Over 300 New Jobs!

Downtown Living is in!

The Community Danced on Pearl during Summer Days!

The Trend Event Fashion Show

Installation of the clock at Duluth Trading Company

Belle Square Apartments

$65 million in Private Investment in the past 12 months

$400 million in Public and Private Investment in a four

year time frame!

EconomicVitality

New expansions, relocations and new business openings in downtown: 4th Street Bar and Catering, Apothik Food Truck, Associated Bank, Big Boar BBQ, Burger Fusion,Craft and Vendor Market-place, Creative Canvas, Duluth Trading Company, El Rodeo, Golden Tap, La Crosse Segway Tours, La Crosse Escape Rooms, L.I.N.K. Magazine, Passe and Tlustosch Law Office, Prairie La Crosse, Seven, SEH, Smiths Bike Shop, Tactical Escape 101, That Foreign Place, The Co-Mill workspace, The Fix, The Great Escape of La Crosse, The Maids, VARC, The Toy Shop, Turtle Stack Brewery and Willow Boutique.Introduction of four new hotels and over 400 new hotel rooms. The Charmant Hotel, The Hampton Inn and Suites, The Fairfield Inn, and Home 2 Suites.

Current and recent renovation projects: 4th Street Bar, Pischke Motors, Duluth Trad-ing Company, The Weigert Building, The Charmant Hotel, The Golden Tap, The Fair-field Inn, The Hampton Inn, Home 2 Suites, The Western Horticulture Center and cam-pus projects, La Crosse County Projects, many upper floor renovations and more!

Belle Square $68 million project in the cen-ter of downtown with 255,000 square feet of housing units, office and retail space.

The introduction of the new Launch La Crosse “Ignite” and “Accelerate” compet-itive grant programs for new businesses to open in available downtown store-fronts and existing businesses to innovate, expand and take it to the next level.

Goals for the coming year: Update of the City Vision 2020 Plan to create a new vision for downtown and set goals for the next 20 years!

Rooftop Dining at The Charmant Hotel

Promotions and Special Events

Design andBeautification

DMI coordinates daily and weekly down-town clean-up including picking up trash, pulling weeds, and sweeping sidewalks. DMI grew the Adopt-a-Planter program to over 94 downtown floral planters.

The implementation of a comprehensive cleaning and beautification program that includes pigeon control, an improved clean-up program and beautification.

DMI supports the La Crosse City Vision Foundation’s Safe-Cam project.

Introduction of Community Response Officers in the downtown district.

Introduction by the City of La Crosse on the new Cameron Park playground.

Awarded facade grants and coordinated Wisconsin Main Street design assistance with property owners.

Creation of the Parking work group to advocate for parking solutions.

Goals for the coming year: The development of a new Facade grant program “Elevate” with aggressive grants to raise the bar on painting, building improvements, and other upgrades to help revitalize facades.

Member Socials and Events

Over 40 Property Improvements

2015 - 2016

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Cornerstone members

Corporate Investors and Members

Authenticom, Inc.Brothers of WisconsinCitizens State BankCleary Management CorporationDavy EngineeringDBS GroupDesigning JewelersDuluth Trading CompanyHoliday Inn and SuitesHonda MotorwerksHome 2 SuitesInterstate Roofing

People’s Food Co-opState Bank FinancialThe Weber GroupUW-La Crosse Foundation

ISGLa Crosse Sign CompanyMain Street Law OfficesMerchants BankMichaels EnergyNorthside DevelopmentPepsi Cola of La CrossePiggy’sRadisson Hotel- La CrosseWipfli, LLCWKBT News 8WXOW News19

Altra Federal Credit UnionBMO Harris BankCD Smith ConstructionCoulee BankDairyland PowerDahl AutomotiveDoerflinger’s Second CenturyFairfield Inn and SuitesFestival FoodsGelatt CorporationGenslerHawkins, Ash, CPA’sHowes Diamond JewelersInterior Systems InternationalKaplanLa Crosse Radio GroupMid West Family Broadcasting

Market & JohnsonMetre AgencyPoellinger, Inc.River Architects, Inc.River BankRiver Rocks CoffeeStansfield VendingTrust Point, Inc.The Charmant HotelThe Insurance CenterThe Waterfront RestaurantThe Wedding TreeUS BankVerve, A Credit UnionViterbo UniversityWettstein’sXcel Energy

3 Amigos Property Management4 Sisters Wine Bar and Tapas4th Street Bar and Catering7 Rivers Alliance7 Rivers LGBTQ ConnectionAddie CakesAdvisors Management GroupAffordable Computer ServicesAll Glazed UpAMEC Home LoansAntique CenterAnytime FitnessBenson ManagementBently-Wheeler Bed & BreakfastBig Boar BBQBorton Construction, Inc.Brown & Brown InsuranceBurger FusionBuzzard Billy’s/Starlite Loungeby James GalleriesCabin Coffee CompanyCameron Park Farmer’s MarketCandlewood SuitesCasino BarCavalier Theater and LoungeCharter SpectrumChildren’s MuseumChoice Awards & GiftsChris La Shorne ArchitectureCindy Gerke & AssociatesCleary- Kumm FoundationCoalition Drum ShopColdwell Banker RealtorsCo-Mill WorkspaceCoulee Region CommunicationsCourtyard by MarriottCraft and Vendor MarketplaceCredit Bureau Data Inc.Crescent JewelersCrossfireDale’s Clothing for Men & WomenDeaf Ear RecordsDigger’s StingDublin Square Irish Pub & EateryExpress PrintingFairway Outdoor Advertising

Explore La CrosseFat Sams Main Street BistroFayze’sFinnottes Nut & Chocolate ShopFox TV—Grant MediaFranke & Turnbull CPA’sFull Circle SupplyGallery La CrosseGames People PlayGarrison Counseling Inc.Generous Earth PotteryGeorge Keith Brown PropertiesGerrard HoeschlerGovernmental Employees C.U.Grand Bluff RunningGrandStay HotelGreat River Popcorn and Ice CreamGrounded Specialty CoffeeH & R BlockHampton Inn and SuitesHandmade Natural Beauty BoutiqueHanson and AssociatesHouck Transit AdvertisingHSR Associates, Inc.International Bake ShoppeJordana Snyder PhotographyJules’ CoffeehouseKates on StateKathy’s Cookie CompanyKellogg InvestmentsKing Street KitchenKitchen Solvers Inc.Kraus-AndersonKroner True Value HardwareKnightbarry TitleLa Crosse Area Chamber of CommerceLa Crosse Area Development CorporationLa Crosse Arts InitiativeLa Crosse Area YMCALa Crosse CenterLa Crosse City Vision FoundationLa Crosse Community TheatreLa Crosse County Historical SocietyLa Crosse County Tavern LeagueLa Crosse Escape RoomLa Crosse Glass and Overhead Doors

Scenic CenterSEVEN MagazineShort Elliott Hendrickson, Inc.Silver HideawaySmith’s Bike ShopSubway SandwichesStamp ‘n HandKyle Visker State Farm InsuranceStifel Nicolaus Investment ServiceTavern League of La Crosse CountyTease Salon and BarbershopThe BLÜ GroupThe Board StoreThe Breakfast Club & PubThe Buzz on MainThe Court Above MainThe Golden TapThe Great Escape of La CrosseThe La Crosse ClubThe MaidsThe Old CrowThe Pearl Ice CreamThe Root NoteThe Toy ShopThe WarehouseThe Yoga PlaceThree Rivers LodgeThree Sixty Real Estate SolutionsTJ’s CheddarheadsTlustosch Law OfficeTop ShotsTouch of ClassTravel ExpertsTreasures on MainTree Huggers Co-opTurtle Stack BreweryWarren Loveland Real EstateWeber Center for the Performing ArtsWeddings By NancyWedding Day DesignsWelcome CelebrationsWesley United Methodist ChurchWettstein Brothers ElectricWieser BrothersWillow BoutiqueWinona Radio

La Crosse LoggersLa Crosse Masonic CenterLa Crosse Olive Oil CompanyLa Crosse Public LibraryLa Crosse Queen CruisesLa Crosse Segway ToursLa Crosse Symphony OrchestraLa Crosse TribuneLe ChateauLeithold MusicLighting Design by WettsteinsLindy’s SubsL.I.N.K. MagazineLive Well ChiropracticMarkos Wholesale ApparelMetropolitan Salon & Day SpaMississippi WeldersMonet Flowers & GiftsMorrison & AssociatesNoelke’sNorland Law Firn, LLCNorth La Crosse Business AssociationO’Flaherty Heim Egan & Birnbaum LtdOktoberfest USAOld School Variety ShowOrange Computer SolutionsOrange Pearl Salon, Inc.Painted PorchPasse Law Office, LLCPearl Street BooksPickerman’s Soup & SandwichesPizza AmorePizza DoctorsPrairie La CrossePremier FitnessPump House Regional Arts CenterRiver City Gold and Silver ExchangeRiver City HobbiesRLR Properties & InvestmentsRobertson, Ryan & AssociatesRocky RococoRose JewelersRotary LightsSandmire Insurance AgencySatori ArtsSavory Creations

Associated BankCenturyLinkCity of La CrosseCounty of La Crosse

Keystone Investors$500.00 or more

Lamplight Investors$1000.00 or more

Landmark Investors$3000.00 or more

Carla Callies, Brian Carroll, Ryan Cornett, Earlamae Dahlby, Mary Ann Gschwind, Todd Jensen, Audrey Kader, Scott Koenen, Michael Mader, Todd and Deb Ondell, Roger

Roslansky, Fred and Deb Wakeen, Bill Weber, I. Schilling, John Wettstein, John Young

Board President Deb Lash

Executive Director Robin Moses

“The mission of Downtown Mainstreet Inc. is to ensure ongoing economic development while cultivating a revitalized downtown”

Downtown Mainstreet Inc.

500 Main StreetLa Crosse, WI 54601

608.784.0440lacrossedowntown.com

Board of DirectorsDeb Lash - The Wedding Tree

President

Michael Richards - Gundersen Health

President Elect

Wayne Oliver

Past President

Jan Howes - Howes Diamond Jewelers

Vice President

Chris La Shorne - Architect

Secretary/ treasurer

Rick Artman - Viterbo UniversityJim Bressi- Kwik Trip

James Cherf - by James GalleriesScott Chorski- WKBT News 8

Eric Erickson - Mayo Health SystemWard Evanson - Logistics HealthBrian Fukuda - La Crosse County

Audrey Kader Jessica Kirchner- O’Flaherty Heim

Egan & BirnbaumDebi McKenney - Wells Fargo

Jason Munz- TrustpointKim Pretasky - Touch of Class

John Satory - Satori Arts Bill Weber - Red Box +

StaffRobin Moses

Executive Director

Joanna ConrathMarketing Coordinator

We are very proud of the growth that we have had this year. Downtown La Crosse was listed #1 out of Wisconsin Main Street pro-grams again this year, with over 65 million in completed private investment projects. We were #1 in new business openings, with 30 new businesses in the past 12 months. We are creating an environment for entrepre-neurship, creativity and community involve-ment. As an organization we have added an additional 35 new members, and we are engaging people and businesses from across the city to join us to make a difference in our downtown and in our community.

Last year we celebrated our 25th Anniver-sary and we looked back to the history, people, and projects that led us to today. This year we celebrate the success that we are currently enjoying, and look to the future as we lay the groundwork to move forward with new vision for an even stron-ger, more vibrant downtown. A downtown that sets an example and leads the way for our entire community and region. La Crosse is a beautiful community, we have natural resources that are incompa-rable and historic building stock that other communities can only wish for. How-ever our greatest asset is our people, the lead-ership of our board president, Deb Lash, the excellence of our board of directors, our downtown business members, inves-tors and community partners in down-town. The neighborhood that we are building together is something that we can all be very proud of. Join us as we set a new vision and move forward to make our downtown even greater!

Downtown Mainstreet Inc.Annual Report 2015 - 2016

What a change we are all witnessing! How wonderful to be the envy of most other cities in the Midwest. “The mission of Down-town Mainstreet is to ensure ongoing eco-nomic development while cultivating a re-vitalized downtown”.

What can we do to improve? There is always room for improvement. I would like to thank every past and pres-ent board member, committee member, and all Downtown Mainstreet sponsors and investors. Without you, nothing is possible. I especially would like to thank our Executive Director, the face of down-town, the person who’s heart is as big as our city, the one who always puts down-town Lacrosse first and in the best light possible, Robin Moses. You make us all look good!“Our vision for downtown is to promote a vibrant downtown that enriches our busi-nesses, embraces our history, celebrates our culture and captures the spirit of our community while enhancing the vitality of our entire region”. I believe this is what we are doing. We will continue to strive for excellence and to meet our goals and your expectations in the coming year!

We are experiencing a transformation that is exciting and dramatic. This growth is providinga surge in momentum for even more development, as it creates con-fidence in our downtownneighborhood and our entire community.

The act of regularly communicating this with ourselves and the public ensures we stay focused and that we continue to be true to our purpose each day. You will hear how magnificent downtown lacrosse is doing, how much we have improved, and how excellent our stats line up in compar-ison to other cities in Wisconsin. As a small business person, the number one question I have had for myself and my team for more than two decades - how can we do better?

Wells FargoWestern Technical College

Gundersen Health SystemKwik Trip, Inc.Logistics Health Inc. Mayo Clinic Health System

Individual Members