The City of Minden’s Main Street program highlighted ongoing improvements and upcoming initiatives during a merchant meeting Monday, September 22, at City Hall.
Sarah Overall, Main Street and Economic Development Director, said the program continues to follow its four-point approach of design, promotion, organization and economic vitality. She emphasized the importance of community feedback as part of the current assessment and urged more residents to complete the Main Street survey.
“We had a great response to this survey. We need more of the community’s voice to be heard though,” Overall said. “This will help us build out a plan that the community actually wants.”
The survey, available in English and Spanish, is open to all residents, with a special request for responses from those under 24, over 65 and from the African American community. The link is available at https://nationalmainstreet.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7VrFpnAJU6Ht8Vg.
During the meeting, Overall reported that downtown parking lots owned by the city have been re-paved and additional spaces added. She reminded merchants that the city can only re-pave city-owned property. “Most of our roads and highways in Minden are state owned, and we can’t re-pave those,” she said.
Overall asked merchants and their employees to leave downtown parallel parking available for visitors and to monitor their speed when driving through the Historic District. “The Historic District is busier now than it has been in probably five years. There are a lot more pedestrians, and I am fearful that somebody might get hurt,” she said.
The city is working with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development on possible crosswalks for Broadway and Main streets, both state-owned roads. Officials are also considering the purchase of a speed tracking device.
Other updates included:
- Self-watering hanging baskets, funded by the Skele-Tour fundraiser, will be installed on light poles.
- A local grant program for downtown buildings is in development.
- A class with Louisiana Preservation & Trust is scheduled for October 9 at 9AM at City Hall to review available tax credits and grants for building owners.
- Red Wolf Media has been hired to coordinate events and manage online promotion of downtown businesses.
- Merchants are encouraged to use Google review stands to boost visibility and foot traffic.
Overall said fall and holiday decorations will be installed throughout the district. Fall décor will be up October 1 through November 9, with Christmas décor following the Miss Volunteer pageant in mid-November. Merchants are asked to have decorations in place by November 28, Shop Small Saturday.
Special events include The Couyons of Comedy, a five-comedian variety show, set for December 6 at Easley Studio Courtyard. A list of upcoming fall events will be featured in an upcoming Minden Press-Herald article.
The next Main Street merchant meeting will be held in January.