Grant For Sandy Hook 'Wayfinding' Design Plan, Free Seminars Announced
Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC), the downtown revitalization and economic development nonprofit, has awarded the Town of Newtown a $10,000 Preservation of Place Grant for the creation of a Sandy Hook Village Signage and Wayfinding Design Plan. Newtown was one of eight organizations and municipalities to be award a 2015 Preservation of Place Grant.
As part of the Sandy Hook Village economic recovery and branding efforts completed by Arnett Muldrow & Associates in 2013, it was recommended that a signage and wayfinding study be completed. This effort will help determine signage needed to direct the public to Sandy Hook Village and notify travelers of parking, restaurant, arts, etc.
Currently, there is lack of directional signage indicating the location of Sandy Hook Village in the areas of both Exits 10 and 11 of I-84.
The addition of directional signage for parking, restaurants, entertainment, etc within the village will help drive traffic and increase awareness of the services available. The town worked closely with the Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) leadership and other Sandy Hook Village stakeholders to complete the grant application, which included letters of support within the grant application.
The next steps include releasing a RFP (request for proposals) for a consultant to complete the study. The town and stakeholders will work together, creating a steering committee and select a consultant whom they will work closely with through the evaluation and fact-finding process.
The consultant will determine signage recommendations for design and location to help increase traffic and awareness of the village amenities. This is an effort to continue the Sandy Hook Village long-term recovery process and increase business vitality. The project will be completed by September 2015.
This project was partially funded by a grant from Connecticut Main Street Center and the Preservation of Place program in cooperation with the state of State of Historic Preservation Office of the Department of Economic and Community Development with funds from the Community Investment Act of the State of Connecticut.
SHOP spokesman Joe Hemingway was thrilled to learn about the grant.
“Since the very beginning of our branding and marketing relationship with Connecticut Main Street through the STEEP grant signage has been on the top of our list of items needed to help Sandy Hook Village become the pedestrian destination we want to be,” he told The Bee.
Free Seminars For Business Owners
In other news, the Newtown Economic Development Commission and the Newtown Chamber of Commerce have partnered with the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Connecticut District Office to offer free seminars for small business owners and those thinking of about entering the world of entrepreneurship.
All seminars will be held in the lower meeting room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, from 8 to 9:30 am. Coffee and bagels will be served.
The following workshops are scheduled:
*Tuesday February 3, “How to Start Your Own Business (ABCs of Business Plan).”
For those who have ever thought about starting a business, doing it right from the start is a key to success. This seminar will cover topics such as choosing a business name/structure, licensing, registrations, etc.
Also covered will be the importance of business plan, what it is used for, what should be in it, and what it says about a business and its owner.
Speakers are Jessica Rivera from SBA and Nelson Merchant from Small Business District Center.
*Tuesday February 10, “Marketing and Advertising.”
What can a marketing plan do for a small business? This seminar will help attendees understand many ways to reach and manage a competitive position in a target market.
Topics will include traditional marketing tactics, social media options, potential pitfalls, budget and cost control, and how to determine if one’s time and money are being well spent.
Speakers will be Joanne Marcinek from AskJoanne.com, John Voket representing The Newtown Bee and Connoisseur Media radio network, and Moraima Gutierrez from SBA.
*Tuesday February 24, “Financing Your Small Business.”
Finding capital for a small business is not impossible. This seminar will offer pointers from the SBA, Newtown Savings Bank and its SBA lending, Connecticut Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) about its Business Express financing and SBA’s microloan program, as well as other lending program.
Speakers are Sheila Hummel of Connecticut’s DCED, Bill Tierney from SBA, and Paula Woodhouse from Newtown Savings Bank.
*Tuesday March 3, “How to Navigate and Search for Bids.”
This seminar will cover where to register in order to do business with the State of Connecticut and the federal government, websites for locating federal bids over $25,000, and the state’s bid portal where state and municipal bids can be found. Also covered will be state and federal set-aside programs.
Lisa Powell from CT SBA will lead this seminar.
All seminars are sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank with support from the Newtown Chamber of Commerce.
All seminars are sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank with support from the Newtown Chamber of Commerce.
For information, contact Betsy Paynter, economic development coordinator, at the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, call 203-270-4281 or e-mail betsy.paynter@newtown-ct.gov.