A merchants association that began Feb. 18 with three Downtown business owners, a bookstore manager and an artist who used to have a Laura Street gallery has grown into a group of more than 20 Downtown advocates of many backgrounds.
"We are the new generation of business owners. We want to be part of the new Downtown," said Ida Metzger, co-owner of Diversions Relaxation & Gifts and one of the group's founding members.
Named the Jax Pack Downtown Merchants, the group met Tuesday at Chamblin's Uptown Bookstore & Cafe.
The group invited Terry Lorince, Downtown Vision Inc. executive director, to explain cutbacks in Downtown Ambassador services reported March 1 in the Daily Record.
Lorince said Downtown Vision is funded by an additional ad valorem tax assessment paid by Downtown property owners and that revenue and property values have declined the past three years. That has led to Downtown Vision's annual budget declining from $1.3 million to about $1 million, she said.
"We have lost $300,000 with the value of the building down 30 percent. For three years, we've been living off savings and scrimping. Now it's time to pay the piper," Lorince said.
The annual expense for salaries and benefits for Downtown Vision's six-member staff is $380,000 per year.Administrative expenses, including rent for Downtown Vision's office space in the Ed Ball Building, are annually $90,000. The cost for events and promotions, including First Wednesday Art Walk and "Eat Up Downtown," is $118,000 per year, Lorince said.
She said the Downtown Ambassador program costs Downtown Vision $575,000 per year for cleaning services and hospitality ambassadors.
She said the organization is faced with cutting $250,000 in expenses, so the services provided by the hospitality ambassadors will have to be scaled back by as much as 30 percent, including limited coverage on Sundays.
"Those are the ones that will greet you and help people who don't know how to operate the new parking meters," Lorince said.
Downtown Vision presently has no plans to significantly reduce the services provided by ambassadors assigned to cleaning Downtown sidewalks, but some landscaping and other maintenance work may be reduced or eliminated, she said.
"This isn't pleasant, but it's the reality of how things are Downtown. We are willing to help Downtown merchants within our ability," said Lorince.
Metzger said one of the association's first projects is to implement a series of "micro events" designed to bring more people Downtown and encourage people who work Downtown to spend time in the neighborhood after they leave work.
She has started a "Healthy Happy Hour" at Diversions from 5-7 p.m. each Thursday when guests can learn about relaxation techniques and nutrition and discover a side of Downtown they might be missing.
It's also about marketing her business, she said.
"Our businesses are our livelihoods. We all have families to support," said Metzger.
Other events the association is developing include Downtown bicycle and walking tours that feature art galleries and businesses, and a monthly food truck festival at Hemming Plaza.
Jennifer O'Donnell, manager of Chamblin's Uptown, said the association has designed its own logo that will be printed on stickers and T-shirts to be sold at Jax Pack's booth at the April 3 First Wednesday Art Walk.
Jax Pack plans to contact merchant's groups in 5 Points and Springfield to explore ways to connect those neighborhoods with Downtown, said O'Donnell.
Jax Pack is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. each Tuesday in the café at Chamblin's.
Metzger said participation is open to business owners, employees and others who are interested in advocating for Downtown.
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