A Note from our CEO, Scott Soderberg

 

 

Anyone who has grown up or lived in a small town knows that its main street is the center of the universe there—every location is identified by its proximity to that road: “It’s a block north of main behind the pharmacy” or “it’s on main right next to the bakery.” It’s easy to think that the concept of “Main Street” is an antiquated notion, and that it’s all about having the latest concept come to the outskirts of your town. Think mega indoor golf facilities, gaming arcades, large national retailers, big box home improvement chains…you get the picture. All those businesses are certainly good things if they are in the right place and serve a variety of residents’ needs and wants.

I’ve lived in suburbs that are, frankly, bedroom communities that were created in open spaces. They did not spring from a tiny town or village. There is nothing wrong with that, and I raised my family just fine there, thank you. But being equally frank, I never felt that those places had a soul. Likewise, while I enjoyed living there for many years, there was no feeling of “belonging”.

Western Wisconsin is filled with small towns, all of which are growing. We all know that people have been coming here, and are continuing to do so, in significant numbers. They have several places from which to choose. When thinking about what is important to those folks, I try to see our area through their eyes. What makes a place special, so much so that you would decide to make a new life for you and your family there? When I think about what I would do to help me decide, one thing comes to mind right away—I’d head to main street to get the vibe of the place I might now call home. Is this a place I’d go when looking for something to do in my free time, or if I need a service or product from someone I know and trust? Are there unique places there that are not found in suburbia?

Many of our communities understand this and are doing great work enhancing their downtowns to keep that feeling of “place” that draws so many to their town. The key to maintaining that feel, or to revitalizing your main street to regain it, is to have local businesses, citizens, and municipalities prioritize a vibrant downtown as a high priority amongst the many issues every community faces. I am fortunate enough to be part of an independent group of New Richmond building and business owners called “ReNew Richmond”, which has as its sole mission the creation of a more attractive and unique downtown district that is a shopping, entertainment, and business destination for community members and visitors alike. If you are interested in these efforts, please let me know and I will gladly add you to our distribution list.

Main street is the bedrock of all the things that make our towns places people want to live, work, and play…in answer to my own question, THAT’S WHAT! How we value it now has everything to do with the livability of our communities in the future.