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Revitalization & Economic Development

Congratulations to Cindy Miller on being named the
The Winner
of the First Heritage Ohio Photography Contest

www.HeritageOhio.org

The Toronto Coalition for Revitalization is a grass roots / volunteer movement whose  MISSION  
Is to recognize, revitalize and promote the historic, cultural, social and economic stability of Toronto by maintaining
the small town character of the community and supporting values that assure
Toronto is a great place to live, work, play, invest and do business.
 

The Toronto Coalition for Revitalization  is affiliated with the Community Foundation of Jefferson County Ohio. The Community Foundation of Jefferson County is a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio and the Community Foundation also has an IRS tax exempt status.  All donations and membership in the Toronto Coalition for Revitalization, excluding dues or sale items, may be considered tax exempt.      Consider membership in the Coalition your membership/contribution will further revitalization and economic development to our area. Membership form may be found by opening the link below and completing the information.

email  TCFR@gotmc.net

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Download/View Revitalization Newsletter 2010 Issue 1

Download/View Revitalization Newsletter May 2010 Issue 2

Visit The Coalition's facebook site

Download/View
Planning for the Future:
A Handbook on Community Visioning

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Store Front Improvement Program
Rudy's Corner  Corner of N. 4th Street and Myers

Paint donated by Sherwin-Williams of Steubenville, Ohio
Sean Hanley, Manager  740-264-5555
www.Sherwin-Williams.com

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From a vacant lot to a bountiful garden  COMMUNITY GARDEN    Why not in Toronto?

                               Information on how to start a community garden,  click on this link    COMMUNITY GARDEN

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 Toronto High School Art Club 3 panel mural
at Valley Converting on S.4th Street
Paint donated by Valley Converting
Thank you, Mike Biasi & Toronto City Schools
Art Club Sponsor Amanda Speece
Students;  Stephanie Calabrese, Kaitlyn Hall, Tyler Brides, Matt Horn

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Visit
www.The350Project.net
To see how you can support the Local Businesses and Economy

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Partial List of businesses that serve toronto
MORE TO FOLLOW

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For the longest time, we all waited for a white knight to ride into town and fix the problem. But the Main Street people made us realize that the only way to get it done right was to do it ourselves Russell Thomas, mayor of Americus, Georgia The Ohio Main Street Program, administered by Heritage Ohio, has been working with communities across the state to revitalize their historic or traditional commercial areas. Based in historic preservation, the Main Street approach was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to save historic commercial architecture and the fabric of American communities’ built environment, but has become a powerful economic development tool as well. The Main Street program is designed to improve all aspects of the downtown or central business district, producing both tangible and intangible benefits. Improving economic management, strengthening public participation, and making downtown a fun place to visit are as critical to Main Street’s future as recruiting new businesses, rehabilitating buildings, and expanding parking. Building on downtown’s inherent assets — rich architecture, personal service, and traditional values and most of all, a sense of place — the Main Street approach has rekindled entrepreneurship, downtown cooperation and civic concern. It has earned national recognition as a practical strategy appropriately scaled to a community’s local resources and conditions. And because it is a locally driven program, all initiative stems from local issues and concerns. Visit the Heritage Ohio website  at  www.HeritageOhio.org

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Toronto Coalition for Revitalization
mEETS ON THE SECOND tUESDAY OF EACH mONTH
6:15 PM   lOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED

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What happened to America's Main Streets?
Click here for the answer

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                      See photos of Meet the Candidates from Oct. 28, CLICK HERE

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The information below is taken from The National Trust for Historic Preservation
www.PreservationNation.org
The Main Street Four-Point Approach®

"For the longest time, we all waited for a white knight to ride into town and fix the problem. But the Main Street people made us realize that the only way to get it done right was to do it ourselves."  Russell Thomas, mayor of Americus, Georgia

As a unique economic development tool, the Main Street Four-Point Approach® is the foundation for local initiatives to revitalize their districts by leveraging local assets—from cultural or architectural heritage to local enterprises and community pride.

The four points of the Main Street approach work together to build a sustainable and complete community revitalization effort.

1. 
Organization

Involves getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a Main Street revitalization program. A governing board and standing committees make up the fundamental organizational structure of the volunteer-driven program. Volunteers are coordinated and supported by a paid program director as well. This structure not only divides the workload and clearly delineates responsibilities, but also builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders.

2. 
Promotion

Sells a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district. By marketing a district's unique characteristics to residents, investors, business owners, and visitors, an effective promotional strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events, and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers. These activities improve consumer and investor confidence in the district and encourage commercial activity and investment in the area. 

3. 
Design

Means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets — such as historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets — is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere, created through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping, conveys a positive visual message about the commercial district and what it has to offer. Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, and long-term planning. 

4. 
Economic Restructuring

Strengthens a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base. The Main Street program helps sharpen the competitiveness of existing business owners and recruits compatible new businesses and new economic uses to build a commercial district that responds to today's consumers' needs. Converting unused or underused commercial space into economically productive property also helps boost the profitability of the district.

Coincidentally, the four points of the Main Street approach correspond with the four forces of real estate value, which are social, political, physical, and economic.

Also read:
 The Eight Guiding Principles      
Get started in your community today 

The information above is taken from The National Trust for Historic Preservation
For much more information on Community Revitalization go to
www.PreservationNation.org
Once there go to menu bar click on Issues,
drop down menu click on Community Revitalization

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Steps to Revitalize

1.  Maintain and Improve.

TCR will support and applaud the efforts of the City Govt. and Civic Organizations, such as but not limited to; Beautification Committee, Toronto City Schools, THS Alumni Assoc., THS Boosters, Toronto Titans, Historical Society of Toronto Ohio, Toronto Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Lions, Churches, etc.  The TRC will do all that is possible to promote and support existing Toronto business.

2.  Inventory and Catalog

TCR will gather information on both brown and green real estate, as to ownership of the property, usage allowed, square footage, for rent lease or sale.  Such information will be kept current and available to the public.  Questionnaire/surveys will be given to business and residents of all ages in order to determine their needs within the city.

3.  Plan and Promote

TCR will work with outside organizations such as The Voinovich School at Ohio University, Franciscan University and Heritage Ohio an arm of The National Trust for Historic Preservation, etc. to develop a plan of revitalization based on the above.  Promotion of the revitalization plan to bring new business and industry to Toronto will be local and global.  TCR will develop and maintain a current website to promote and showcase all aspects of Toronto.

4.  Assist

TCR will work with such organizations as Progress Alliance, Valley Ventures, The Community Foundation and others to assist new business in the development and growth of their new enterprise and will assist in the acquisition of grants and or loans.

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Five Standing Committees established by the Coalition
 

	1.  Media/Membership Committee:  Responsible for all media coverage related to Coalition’s activities.  Would maintain a website, create various brochures and oversee a newsletter. Also, Oversee monthly articles for local newspaper.  Maintain email address book of members and contact them with news and events to include public meetings to obtain and share information.  Responsible for maintaining current membership rolls.  Conducts regular campaigns to increase membership.  Conduct public surveys for the input of ideas, comments and suggestions for the Coalition.
2.  Ways and Means Committee:  Responsible for the development of recommendations for fund-raising projects, the solicitation of corporations, trusts, organizations, grants, etc., as appropriate.
	3.  Planning/Real Estate Committee:  Responsible for the development of options for revitalization and recovery with an associated time line based on the needs of the community.   Said plan will encompass but will not be limited to; business, industry and residents especially the youth and senior citizens.  .  To obtain pertinent information on residential and commercial properties, keeping such information current and updated in an accessible form.
4.  Auditing/Nominating Committee/:  Responsible for conducting an annual audit of the Treasurer’s records and the monies deposited in various accounts.  The Audit Committee shall give a report at the annual meeting.  Responsible for nominating candidates for the Board of Trustees to be elected at the annual meeting, with provisions for accepting and verifying all petitions submitted by any of the membership.   No currently elected officer may be on the nominating committee.
	5.  Resource Committee:  Responsible for the gathering, sharing and communicating with both public foundations and government agencies for purpose of obtaining information and/or grants related to Coalition’s stated purposes, such as Progress Alliance, CIC, Voinovich School-OU, Franciscan University, etc..

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Click to view the following

Map of Jefferson County

Map of Toronto, Ohio (Mapquest)

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 The following Organizations, Businesses and Individuals
endorse and support the need for Revitalization in Toronto. 

How can I become involved in the Toronto Coalition for Revitalization?
Simply click:  ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST AND THE ADDRESS BOOK. 
Provide your name and email address and you will be added to the Address Book
 You will receive information and updates on the Revitalization via email.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

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Links:        

What other cities have done

           www.MainStreetMedina.com       www.DowntownMansfield.com        www.StClairsville.com

 www.DownTownSteubenvilleSRG.com        www.BereaOhio.com

Links to Government Officials

Governor Ted Strickland

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown

U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich

U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson

Ohio Senator Jason Wilson

Ohio House of Representative John Domenick

Jefferson County Commissioners
Tom Gentile
David Maple   
Tom Graham

Jefferson County Auditor
Patrick J. Marshall

Other Links

www.PreservationNation.org        www.HeritageOhio.org      

       www.FirstOhio.com        www.ProgressAlliance.com         www.OhioBiz.com

www.ValleyVentures.org        www.TorontoOhioAlumni.com    

      www.FocusInToronto.com

Center for Community & Economic Development University of Wisconsin

West Virginia Main Street Program        www.wvdo.org

Eastern Ohio Development Alliance      www.eoda.org 

Ohio Department of Development   www.odod.state.oh.us

Jefferson County Real Estate Link   

Bike Links

Ohio Department of Transportation Design Guidance for Road-Way Based Bicycle Facilities

 Booklet on Bike Lanes            www.OhioBike.org

Partial list of Toronto Businesses

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QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS E-MAIL    George Komar at  gkomar123@yahoo.com

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