Ceremony marks start of new downtown Roseburg group
ROSEBURG, Ore. - A ribbon-cutting ceremony in downtown Roseburg Wednesday morning, marked the beginning of a new group that is known as the Downtown Roseburg Association, that will promote the area and try to draw more business. The group will work in connection with the nationally acclaimed Main Street program.
The new association is formed from two previous groups including the Roseburg Town Center and the Roseburg Business Association, One of the new board members said coming together will help mainstream the projects they want to get done.
"They all worked for the betterment of the city, but in a lot of cases there has been a little friction, there has been a lack of resources so to come together with the two organizations downtown, with the backing of the city and of this great organization, we feel we can really make a change downtown, " said Lanty Jarvis a new board member.
The new board will function under the foundation of the Oregon Main Street program, which focuses on promotion, organization and restructuring as a way to revitalize commercial historic districts. The nine-member board has already received a resolution of support from the Roseburg City Council.
City officials say the new association will help pool resources and get new projects underway faster.
"the communication will flow easier, there won't be back and forth between two boards and between the city, it'll be one point of contact, better coordinated resources for projects that'll get done faster," said Brian Davis, the city's Community Development Director.
Mayor Larry Rich was on hand to applaud the efforts of both organizations and the community for doing what needed to be done. The celebration was in conjunction with the Thursday night Art & Wine Walk which will feature local art in businesses and on the sidewalk.
