Ashland charge rolls on
BY JOHN E. USALIS Times Shamrock
Writer
02/27/2006
ASHLAND - The Campaign for Ashland by Ashland Downtown
Inc. has a full head of steam.
"The $80,000 pledged so far is representative of
12 contributors so far," Louis Rader, ADI president, said at
a recent meeting. "I think that's outstanding."
Through the capital campaign, ADI hopes to raise $175,000 in five
years in order to help qualify for the borough's participation in
the state Main Street program. If the campaign is successful, Ashland
would qualify for a $175,000 downtown revitalization grant and have
the opportunity to receive up to $500,000 in additional grant money.
So far, the campaign has received pledges of $81,225,
which is 46.4 percent of the goal, Rader said. ADI directors are pleased
with the progress, since the effort is only six weeks old, he added.
The campaign is being conducted in three phases. The
first phase involves large businesses, professionals and local government;
the second is for small businesses; the third, which will run through
March and April, is for Ashland area residents and friends.
ADI is in the process of completing the initial phase
and going to the second phase, which will include a invitation-only
mixer Tuesday at Community Banks' Ashland branch. The mixer will allow
business owners a chance to learn more about the campaign and its
importance to revitalization of the borough's downtown and the collateral
benefits to the rest of the community.
The third phase, Rader said, will include a mass mailing
to residential areas in Ashland.
ADI is also in the process of board elections, which
will put officers in place for the next two years. Setting the number
of directors and making sure that any directors seated will be able
to be active members, were major topics.
According to the ADI bylaws, the board can be from seven
to 25 members.
Members opted for a 13-member board, plus two ex-officio
members.
"We all agreed that when we started this process
that we would make it a working board of directors," Rader said.
"It's pretty important. We're looking for our committees
to be very proactive and pursue all of the things that are within
their own mission statements."
Rader said he understands things change in people's
lives and priorities shift, so changes are inevitable.
However, he reminded current directors and committee
members that the revitalization process is moving along and this is
the time to remain active in the campaign.
"We're really on the move," he said. "We
have some terrific potential to make some serious changes, like with
the streetscape project."
Due to ongoing projects and activities, a motion was
made by Gil Devine, seconded by Marylee Rebuck, to have the current
officers continue in their posts, at least for another year.
In 2007, a formalized nomination process and election
by all ADI members will be conducted.
In addition to Rader, officers include Vice President
Robert Nestor, Secretary Ellen Sosnoskie and Treasurer Barbara Mullins.
Rader said a town meeting is being planned to provide
a public overview of what has been accomplished since the first town
meeting about two years ago.
While no date has been set, the meeting is tentatively
scheduled for May.
The ADI board meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Monday of
the month in the Ashland Downtown Center, located in the annex of
the Community Banks building.
The public is welcome to attend the meetings and new
volunteers are always welcome, Rader said.
The Ashland revitalization movement is just one of several
in northern Schuylkill County. Frackville, Girardville, Mahanoy City,
Ringtown and Shenandoah all are trying to revitalize their downtowns,
and, along with Ashland, are participating in the Upper Schuylkill
Downtowns effort.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2007
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