From the Seattle Metro to Big Sky Country, staff at Leland Consulting have been on the ground gathering input from community leaders at several events this spring to guide plan and strategy development.
In February, Jennifer Shuch and Chris Zahas traveled to Great Falls, Montana to gather recent success stories from local business owners and developers that will inform the development of a downtown market analysis and economic development strategy. This strategy for the Great Falls Development Alliance will support ongoing downtown investment by local entrepreneurs, developers, and investors by painting a picture with data of the ongoing revitalization of Great Falls’ historic core. Driven by growth in the region’s medical and education sectors, downtown Great Falls has seen significant reinvestment in recent years.
The historic Arvon Hotel was renovated and opened in 2015 by Wayne Thares, who also owns the Celtic Cowboy restaurant and bar in the ground floor. The Arvon—an early example of the city’s downtown renaissance—serves as a prime example of adaptive re-use in the city, driven by an active base of “business owner-developers.”
On March 13th, Ellen Bini and Chris Zahas spent the day in Bingen, Washington gathering input from local business owners to inform the city’s economic development strategy. Nestled in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, Bingen has a strong base of entrepreneurs representing a range of industries, including fermented foods, glass art, outdoor equipment, and vintage clothing, among others. Business owners shared how helpful it is to have an accessible point of contact at the City and additional ways local government can support their success, including continued improvements on local infrastructure and reducing residential parking requirements to support the development of live-work housing in commercial areas.
Leland Consulting Group hosts a focus group with local business owners in Bingen, Washington to gather input for the city’s economic development strategy.
On April 30th, David Fiske and Ellen Bini led a workshop in partnership with the Mountlake Terrace Chamber of Commerce and the City of Mountlake Terrace to gather input from business owners for an economic development strategic plan. As the densest city in Snohomish County, Mountlake Terrace is poised for significant continued growth following its connection to regional light rail this August. Key themes that emerged from the event include the potential for further collaboration on business resources, entrepreneurship support and events to promote local businesses, as well as the need to plan for adequate parking and improved signage as the city continues to grow.
Mountlake Terrace Chamber of Commerce members share ideas for how small businesses can thrive. Photo Credit: MLT Chamber – Summer Foerch Photography.
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