Print
Email Story
PASCO Pasco's downtown revitalization efforts may be getting a new driver.
The city, which has sat in the passenger seat in the past, has decided to take a more active role.
Meanwhile, the Pasco Downtown Development Association, a volunteer group of business owners and leaders, aims to continue its tried-and-true programs while seeking greater participation from other groups and businesses.
The city has yet to set a new course for the downtown, or line out how it plans to launch an economic boost.
But the city is frustrated with the lack of a clear organization leadership representing downtown businesses, said City Manager Gary Crutchfield. That's why the city is looking into what organizational form would be best to lead downtown efforts.
Despite the development association's hard work and good intentions, the organization doesn't represent a broad spectrum of downtown businesses, he said.
The PDDA has had mixed success over the past two decades. It operates the Pasco Specialty Kitchen to help start small businesses, runs the popular Pasco Farmers Market and organizes the annual Fiery Foods Festival.
But since the Pasco City Council approved a facade improvement program in 2004, only two downtown businesses have received new facades.
The program started with enough money for two to three facades, said Dennis Gisi, association president. Only recently, through two federal grants received by the city and Columbia Basin College, have there been resources to refurbish more storefronts. CBC is also providing business plans and education for business owners as part of the program.
The association hopes to receive approval for facades for six businesses this month, Gisi said. If it does, the facades could be completed by September.
During an April city council retreat, some council members expressed frustration with an overabundance of plans and a lack of action.
Pasco Councilman Al Yenney, the city liaison for the association, said he does see the association as part of future downtown revitalization efforts.
The association board is made up of dedicated volunteers. But they have a challenging job when it comes to sparking downtown revitalization, he said.
The association needs to increase its membership among downtown businesses and hold monthly meetings to become more effective, he said.
Yenney said the association's plans to work with the Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a way for PDDA to further its efforts.
Gisi said the association has been working to get downtown stakeholders, including CBC, the city and chambers, to sit down with PDDA to approve a unified plan.
The association hopes to bring traffic downtown to increase sales, Gisi said.
In the last five years, the association has taken steps to cut financial ties to the city, he said. There was a misconception that the association represented the city in downtown, when it really represents downtown businesses.
Pasco used to contract with the association to work in downtown. Later, the city added contract expectations, including a membership quota, that the association couldn't meet, Crutchfield said. Shortly afterward, the association pulled back from city support and gave up about $30,000 a year for downtown planning efforts.
Crutchfield said the association's membership declined over the past seven or eight years.
Gisi conceded the association did have a membership drop from about 2006-08. He thinks the recession and the misconception of the association's purpose contributed to that.
But membership increased this year, with three businesses joining since January, he said. The group hopes to expand its membership, which is about 50 businesses now, and improve communication with businesses.
More downtown business owners have joined the organization's board, Gisi said.
As part of its efforts, PDDA tried to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, but the Internal Revenue Service denied the group's application this fall.
Rhonda Alberts, PDDA board member, said nonprofit status would allow the association to apply for grants, form a foundation and would make donations to the association tax deductible.
Gisi said the association's board will take another look at the idea after new officers take charge in 2011.
Revitalization will happen downtown, Yenney said. But it won't be immediate and may take 10 years.
But if businesses take advantage of the education and business plan help CBC is offering, that can help retain downtown businesses, he said.
And as businesses prosper, they have the means to put money back into their businesses and the neighborhood, Yenney said.
