PARKERSBURG - Revitalizing downtown areas in communities across the state is the focus of a training session in Parkersburg Wednesday and today.
Parkersburg is host to the West Virginia Main Street and ON TRAC Winter Training session at the Blennerhassett Hotel.
More than 50 representatives of communities from around the state gathered to discuss and share ideas about revitalization and downtown area development.
People came from Charleston, Huntington, Wheeling, Philippi, Elkins, Mt. Hope, Parsons, Morgantown, Fairmont, Ripley and others as well as Parkersburg.
The participants toured sites around downtown Parkersburg where revitalization efforts are continuing.
Cecil Childress, manager of the Blennerhassett Hotel, said tourism is an important economic engine and having a thriving downtown area can assist in that.
''You are not going to have a viable community until you have a viable downtown,'' he said.
Childress talked about the importance of having the support of local government in any downtown revitalization effort, before introducing Parkersburg Mayor Robert Newell who spoke about different efforts the city has done over the last few years to bring development and new businesses to the downtown area.
Lauren Adkins, assistant director for field services at the National Trust Main Street Center in Washington, D.C., spoke about rejuvenating boards as well as recruiting and managing effective leaders.
''I visited Parkersburg many years ago and the downtown is now looking really great,'' she said.
She got those assembled to talk about the challenges they are facing.
Representatives from the different communities talked about trouble getting committed downtown revitalization board members and volunteers; time constraints for people getting involved; having good ideas in place but having trouble getting people to follow through and making sure things get done; people dropping out of programs when results are not evident; people wanting to see results before they commit; always having the same people doing each project and getting the things that fall through the cracks, making it difficult for new people to get involved; parking issues in most downtowns and the need for signage to show available parking; establishment of teen groups that have helped out and generated interest among young people; needing to tout successes to the local media; the old establishment vs. new people on boards; and so on.
''One of the things I face is convincing business owners and prospective business owners to take the risk and come to the downtown area,'' said Greg Hill of the West Virginia Small Business Development Center. Hill has an office at West Virginia University at Parkersburg and does work in Wood, Wirt, Pleasants, Ritchie, Calhoun and Jackson counties.
''Business owners want to see the results of what is going on in the downtown,'' Hill added.
Adkins talked about groups needing to take on smaller projects and build successes their communities could see like a downtown market, special events and festivals. Those events also allow people to see some of the things that can be done in a downtown area.
''The best measure of a market strength in a community is to come to a special event, because you see who all is going to come out and support the businesses and shopping,'' Adkins said quoting a District of Columbia area developer she knew.
''Those promotions which come across as really silly and fluffy are sometimes your first contact with potential entrepreneurs,'' she added.
Adkins talked about how people in certain age ranges view volunteerism. With so many demands on time, many people are reluctant to get involved in their communities. However, some might be willing to help on a specific project as more and more people view volunteerism as a special time to do things.
''Volunteerism has changed a lot over the years,'' she said. ''When someone tells you 'no,' it does not mean 'never.'
''It just means 'not now.'"
Jorge Tecunolmos, a local Parkersburg artist and volunteer, said it is always good to hear from the leaders of any project. Through local support of his efforts, he is passionate about what is going on in Parkersburg and wants to share it with others.
''The fact that they trust me and believe I will get the job done and are supportive through the process makes a big difference,'' he said. ''It encourages me to show my friends what I am doing and encourages me to tell people to swing by downtown.
''We swing by (the Blennerhassett Hotel) to pick up a cup of Starbucks coffee, we stop a couple blocks away to pick up a cupcake or we stop at the Lebanese restaurant to dine because of one event. You do that and the word of mouth spreads out, but it starts with a core group of leadership.''
