Close, but no cigar.
Downtown Oxford was only one point away from regaining its accreditation from the National Main Street Center in Washington D.C. during its annual evaluation conducted last week.
‘I really did want that Main Street certification, but that’s okay ? we’ll work hard and get it next year,? said Sue Bossardet, village president and a member of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board.
Oxford lost its accreditation during last year’s evaluation. ‘I know that a lot of people we’re hoping (to regain) it this year,? said DDA Executive Director Ginny Schomisch. ‘I think we knew it was maybe a little bit of a long shot.?
As she filled out the evaluation checklist, Schomisch said she could see the DDA was ‘on the right track,? but she also knew ‘we just weren’t quite there yet.?
The Main Street program is a national model for downtown revitalization that uses historic preservation as its basis.
Oxford became part of Main Street Oakland County, a local economic development program based on the national one, in 2004.
Main Street officials gave Oxford credit for nine of the 10 criteria used to judge progress in Main Street communities, according to Schomisch and Bossardet.
To become accredited, downtown communities must meet all 10 criteria.
Having ‘an active board and committees? was the criterion the Oxford DDA failed to meet. ‘We lack volunteers. We lack people to sit on the committees,? explained Bossardet. ‘That’s something that we’re going to have to work on.?
The DDA’s committees ? organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring ? are the core of the Main Street program’s four-point approach to downtown revitalization.
Bossardet pointed out the DDA board itself needs to be more active because only four members, including herself, attended the evaluation. One of the Main Street officials remarked that she was ‘offended? that she had traveled ‘all this way? to talk to the same handful of people ‘all day long,? Bossardet said.
In addition to lacking volunteers, the DDA board and committees also lacked funds to accomplish projects and tasks.
The evaluation focused on the DDA’s efforts during 2014, which was largely a quiet year for the entity due to budget cuts. The DDA wasn’t able to spend much money as it was still trying to get back on its feet financially. It basically just paid its bills and worked on rebuilding its reserves.
The DDA’s 2012-13 fiscal year would have ended with a deficit had the village not stepped in and transferred $15,000 from its general fund reserves to cover it.
Of the nine evaluation criteria Oxford did meet, Main Street officials noted that five were in need of improvement, according to Bossardet.
The 10 criteria used to evaluate Main Street communities are broad-based community support; vision and mission statements; historic preservation ethic; paid, professional DDA/Main Street Program Director; program of ongoing training; reporting of key statistics; Main Street Network membership; comprehensive work plan; active board and committees and adequate operating budget.
Although Oxford failed to regain Main Street accreditation, Schomisch, who was hired in July 2014, viewed the evaluation as ‘very positive.?
‘I’m very happy with nine out of 10. I think it’s great,? she said. ‘I think (the Main Street officials) saw the improvements, especially compared to the 2013 evaluation. They can see how we are really trying to work toward (meeting these criteria), not just to get accredited, but because, as a DDA, these are things that we should be doing.?
Schomisch is shooting for perfection next year. ‘If I have anything to say about it, definitely, we’ll be aiming for 10 out of 10 and making those improvements on the (criteria) that need (them),? she said.
Overall, Bossardet was ‘encouraged? by the evaluation. ‘I think that we’ve made great strides since Ginny (arrived),? she said. ‘Overall, I feel really good about the evaluation. I’m very proud that we did so much better (than last year).?