Think Local – Think Live Oak

The Live Oak Partnership and the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce have partnered to launch a buy local campaign. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of the importance of keeping local dollars local and how it affects public services, local business, jobs, and community activities.

 “Each time you make a local purchase, you support local jobs.” said Dennis Cason, President of the Suwannee County Economic Alliance. “During tough economic times like these, spending those dollars at home makes an even greater impact on the economy of the community. Sales tax that is generated by community purchases goes to fund important departments such as fire, police, parks, library, senior services, and Suwannee County schools. Businesses also support and sponsor community events and activities that make the city of Live Oak a great place to live and shop.”

“We realize that not everything is available in our stores, but we want to encourage local shoppers to look here first before making a trip out of town,” says Randy Torrance, Live Oak Partnership Chairman. “With gas prices what they are, shoppers will often save time and money by shopping within our community.” The campaign is three fold in principle. The Live Oak Local campaign will work to encourage Live Oak residents to Think Local when they are considering where to make purchases, Buy Local whenever possible and Be Local by supporting business that support our community, and make it unique.

The campaign will include the distribution of fact sheets, known as factoids, regarding the influence that spending money in locally owned and operated businesses has on the community’s economic prosperity. It will also have a multifaceted internet presence including a webpage and an active social media marketing campaign which will utilize Facebook to the benefit of all participating businesses. These facets of E-communication will operate largely as a free directory of local goods and services and will be a reliable resource of information about community events, featuring user-submitted content and allowing anyone in Live Oak to share news and photos. Additionally, street-side banners will be prominently displayed representing the campaign.

Torrance also shared, “Local businesses are the essence of our economy. Live Oak’s businesses create jobs for our residents, contribute significantly to our nonprofits and help to sustain a vibrant downtown. It is important for all of us to choose to support them. We are not excluding the big-box or national retailers, we do recognize the impact that they have in our community. Not only through jobs but through the offering of many of our daily needs and services.  I am really excited about this new program and partnership that has been established with the Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to working with them in this effort.”

The Live Oak Local campaign will be administered by steering committee of participating retailers who will discuss and evaluate campaign productivity and plan upcoming campaigns, events and incentives. This steering committee will work under the auspices of the Economic Restructuring committee of The Live Oak Partnership, Inc. Additional information can be gained by visiting www.ShopHistoricLiveOak.com.

How’s Your Vision?

In August of 2010, The Live Oak Partnership and the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) presented a 44 page downtown vision plan. Through the last eighteen months, the Partnership Board and the CRA have worked diligently in evaluating and initiating the elements of this vision plan.

During one recent meeting of The Partnership, it was realized that several of the projects of the plan have been initiated. While the  vision plan includes approximately twenty project areas, through the combined efforts of the City of Live Oak, the CRA and The Live Oak Partnership, nine of these elements have either been completed or are in the process of development.

1) Façade Grant Program

Through the office of the City Development Manager, George Curtis, a façade grant program has been prepared approved and put into place.    Several merchants of our downtown business community have utilized these grant funds to improve or renovate their exterior. It is now up to the     business owners to utilize and promote this grant opportunity.

2) Downtown Treescape

As a part of the vision plan, a desire for tree plantings along Hwy 90 and Hwy 129 in our downtown core was discussed. With these roadways being of State property, the Florida Department of Transportation was consulted as to type and feasibility of tree plantings. Based on several issues, including safety, infrastructure and visibility, it was decided that Palms would be the available choice. These trees are now in place.

3) Way-finding Signage

As part of the short term goals listed in the vision plan, way-finding signage has made its way to the planning board. These signs include not only the traditional directional type, but also ‘gateway signs’ which serve as a welcome/entry to the downtown district.

4) Fleet Department Store Parcel

The CRA has purchased this piece of property, located across the street from Live Oak Jewelry. There are several possible uses for this parcel, with the most acceptable one being the creation of a pedestrian pocket park to aid in the connectivity of the County Courthouse to the downtown core via Warren Street to Howard Street. A possible use for this parcel would also be the placement of a public restroom for daily use by downtown shoppers and guests.

5) Warren Street Redesign

This project area is of the most complex of all of the proposed projects as that it includes the largest areas of concern. Through the redesign and   resurfacing of Warren Street, potentially restructuring and beautification of the adjoining 6) Water Retention & Parking Blocks, and the acquisition and improvement of the previously mention Fleet property, the Warren street corridor could become a positive addition to the downtown district offering such amenities as; event space, recreation & fitness trail, business boardwalk, an area of display for public art, as well as an adequate parking area for our downtown businesses.

7) Baisden School & Stadium Property

The adjacent Baisden school property is the future home of a County Records Facility and County Commission Meeting Chambers. Through proper planning and improvement, this property might also include additional parking and office space for county offices, the Suwannee Valley Genealogical Society as well as Suwannee High School Football / Athletic Facilities.

8) Heritage Square Development

In March of this past year (2011), Mayor Nobles issued a citation recognizing the area that includes the 1904 Atlantic Coastline Freight Station, the 1908 Union Passenger Depot, the 1908 Live Oak City Hall and the 1894 Thomas Dowling House as “Heritage Square”. This designation was the first step in a long range vision plan for this part of our ‘downtown’. The Suwannee County Historical Museum occupies the Freight Station, The newly restored Passenger Depot is a county meeting facility and visitor’s center, The Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce occupies the  Historic City Hall and the Dowling House is in private ownership. This designation will also aid in the promotion of Heritage Square being a gateway entrance to Live Oak via West 136 (Duval Street).

9) CRA Director

The City has agreed with the vision plan recommendation that a staff position is needed devoted to the responsibilities of managing and administering the activities and needs of the Community Redevelopment Agency. The CRA is    currently working to fill this position.

While these plans have been initiated, it is critical to understand that the ultimate decision for their  implementation lies with the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency and the Live Oak City Council.

Many of these plans will be adapted to meet the needs of business owners and citizens. The Live Oak Partnership anticipates working with the CRA and its director to facilitate discussions and actions resulting in their completion.

Putting Things into Perspective

 

“Downtown events make a vital impact in downtown revitalization efforts and present a strong marketing opportunity for the local business owner.”

This past year, Live Oak has welcomed two new events to its annual schedule, with the inaugural Live Oak Chocolate Festival in March and Flea across Florida Flea Market event in September.

It is the underlying goal of each of our downtown events to ’fill the sidewalks’, and those that attended any of these events, know that that goal quickly became a reality.  Not only with these two events, but the Junebug Festival, the Scarecrow Festival, and the holiday events including the Chamber’s annual Christmas on the Square and Parade.

Special events play a vital part in our downtown program, and can reap huge benefits for the local business in three primary ways. 1) Events provide an opportunity for sales, promotions, sponsorship, advertising and publicity. Local businesses can use events as promotional tools, and incentives to gain additional customers and clients. 2) Events lead to residual income and future business. Not everyone that visits storefront businesses make a sale on that particular day, but the potential of future or even ongoing business is greater during an event. 3) Events help create a destination for the consumer. It is often through events that travelers, vacationers or residents of neighboring communities visit a downtown community.  In order for these factors to be realized, we as a community, not just business owners, must embrace the visitor, welcoming them to our community, providing them with a reason to come inside, a reason to want to come downtown, a reason to come back, even when there is not an event going on in our humble community.

I applaud the work of our event planning teams and those of the Chamber of Commerce. I ask you to join me in extending a positive attitude in regard to events. Work with event organizers in these endeavors. Recognize the factors involved in these events. Such factors as public safety, vendor access, and consumer expectations. A primary goal of all events is fundraising. Support the event sponsors in this effort as well. Understand that every dollar raised by the local organizations are returned into the local community. The participation of the entire community is needed to make these goals a reality.

To help put these things in perspective, I encourage you to get involved in the planning and initiation of these events and programs. In addition to events, the Partnership and the Chamber offer several programs and opportunities for involvement. The efforts of the Live Oak Partnership and The Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce are only coming to fruition through the efforts of local business owners and community members just like you!