Monticello Main Street provides council with update

     Deb Bowman and Quinn Behrends, president and vice president of Monticello Main Street, shared some updates with the Monticello City Council during their April 22 meeting.

   "We'd like to do this more regularly, come in and report what's happening and what's going on with Main Street, and also to answer any questions," offered Bowman.

   As if it hasn't been noticeable, mural artist Beau Stanton has been working on the mural on the side of The Innovation Lab, at the intersection of First Street and Cedar Street. Bowman said it should take eight to 10 days to complete, depending on the weather.

   Monticello Main Street joined other Main Street Iowa Communities in Des Moines on April 19 for the "Development Awards."

   "It was a celebration of all of the wonderful things that have been happening," Bowman said. "We have been very lucky this year, for the last year and a half, getting a lot of things done."

   Council member Mary Phelan also attended the award event to accept an award on behalf of the city, in partnership with Monticello Main Street. Bowman explained that the award acknowledged the fact that the Main Street district has seen $3 million in growth since Monticello became a Main Street Community.

   In addition, Main Street volunteer Judy Tuetken was also honored for her leadership.

   "Twenty-one Tuetkens showed up to celebrate with her," Bowman said of the surprise.

   A couple of months ago, Main Street circulated two surveys throughout the community. One was intended for business owners, the other for consumers.

   Behrends shared "market snapshot" data, produced by the state, pertaining specifically to Monticello.

   "Initially, when we came to you (the city) with this idea (Main Street), we sold it as data-driven," he said. "This where the data really begins."

   On April 29, the community was invited to attend an open house at The Innovation Lab where Main Street will unveil the results of those two surveys.

   "The state puts that information (data/results) back in our hands," explained Behrends. "They (the state) are there to guide us, but not there to do it for us. It's our work to take that data to the next level and actually put it into action for different strategies. This data will drive decision-making and planning."

   Monticello Main Street needed 380 surveys returned in order to have a 90- to 95-percent accuracy rate. Bowman shared that 420 consumers completed the survey and 75 businesses.

   "We're happy with that," she boasted.