Main Street Oregon City (MSOC) is a Nationally and State accredited downtown revitalization program working to make the 166 year-old downtown Oregon City a better place to live work and visit.
MSOC MISSION
Main Street Oregon City is a locally funded 501c3 non-profit volunteer led public benefit corporation. As the stakeholder-stewards of Downtown Oregon City, we work together as facilitators, coordinators, and together with partners as a catalyst to generate a positive downtown image, preserve historic and cultural landmarks, and stimulate economic vitality and investment in our downtown and in Oregon City.
MSOC VISION
We see Downtown Oregon City is a thriving and vibrant mix of economically viable and unique businesses, activities, restaurants and housing that attracts local residents and visitors and that entices future residents and businesses to relocate into the area. As the heart and soul of our historic community, downtown connects us with each other, to our rich heritage as the first city of the Oregon Territory and to the larger metropolitan area.
The primary objectives of Main Street Oregon City are:
Economic Development - Support programs that use the unique characteristics of the downtown marketplace to attract entrepreneurs, small business owners, investors, and developers while sustaining and growing our existing mix of business. This includes working to add residential components to the downtown marketplace, assisting property owners in the improvement of their property and attracting an appropriate mix of commerce.
Promotion - Support programs that use the unique and authentic identity, heritage, culture and sense of place to brand and promote Downtown Oregon City to consumers and investors. This includes special events, publicity, advertising and communication activities that speak to downtown stakeholders.
Design and Beautify - Support programs that preserve and enhance the buildings, landmarks, and public space in Downtown Oregon City. This includes developing partnerships and plans that improve buildings, public space, access, parking, aesthetics, and an appropriate business/housing mix in Downtown Oregon City.
Organization and Capacity Building - Build partnerships to increase the participation of volunteers, stakeholders, and the public in working to create a balanced economic, physical and social infrastructure in Downtown Oregon City.
Working together we will achieve this vision and these objects through our 2012 goals:
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One building rehab/adaptive reuse project.
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One new build project initiated downtown.
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Two new restaurants located downtown.
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Two new retail businesses opened downtown.
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Two new professional offices downtown.
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External (cosmetic) upgrades to the Municipal Elevator.
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Activated downtown streetscape/sidewalks.
MSOC projects and programs work to achieve these goals and the four-point approach to downtown revitalization. Our successful volunteer-driven projects are based upon building partnerships.
MSOC Recent/Current Project Overview & Volunteer Leaders
Organization Committee
- Downtown Dialogue: Meet Your Neighbors – Powers, Stein
- Word on the Street Downtown – Powers
Economic Revitalization Committee
- Downtown Dialogue/Downtown Walkabout – Purdy
- Blue Collar Creative, Crocker - Powers, Snow, Carskadon
- Restaurant/Retail Round Table - Wuest
- Façade Improvement/Downtown Sign Fund – Purdy
- UP Rail Quiet Zone – Orton
Marketing and Promotions Committee
- Downtown Farmers Market Liaison – Wuest
- First Friday’s /Sounds of Downtown Concerts – Wonser & TRAG
- First City Celebration – Fowler
- Cruise to Downtown & Car Show (Trick N Racy) – Stein, Busch, Sims
- First Steps Self Guided Walking Tour – Orzen
- Downtown Abridged Map/Brochure – Foster
- Mural Brochure – Orzen
Design, Preservation and Placemaking Committee
- Parking Liaison – Fowler
- Urban Petroglyphs/Way Finding – Purdy
- Singer Falls Art - Wimmer & Rotary
- Singer Falls Lighting – Dierkman, Wimmer
- Streetscape Enhancement $2.5 million – Wahgren
- Obelisk Project – Orton
- Clean Sweep/No Butts Campaign – Gilbertson & DBC
- 2012 Summer Art Project – Rambo & Lewis
A template for our volunteer managed work plan process can be downloaded here.
Ambitious goals and projects like these need leadership and partnerships in order to be successful. We look to the board of directors of the downtown revitalization program to be those leaders and builders of partnerships. The non-profit MSOC has been a success because of the dedication of volunteers like who lead, manage, and guide local projects that have a positive impact on our community.
MSOC 2012 Board of Directors
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Terri Powers – Serving as President of the Board
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Elizabeth Fowler – Serving as Vice President of the Board
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Mike Gavaza – Serving as Treasurer of the Board
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Barbara Orton – Serving as Secretary of the Board
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Robb Crocker
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Sue Stein
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Daphne Wuest
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Carol Pauli
A description of MSOC Board Members responsibilities and duties can be downloaded via this link.
Nomination Process for Board Member and Committee Chairpersons and Project:
The non-profit Main Street Oregon City is always looking for talented people who are committed to the idea of a more active and vibrant downtown that Oregon City can be proud of. Qualities we’re looking for people who are:
- Problem Solvers
- Respected Members of the Community
- Can Do Attitude
- Collaborators and Team Builders
- Organized
- Committed to the Welfare of all of Downtown
- Specific skill sets that compliment the Board and Executive Team
- Ability to participate in meetings and lead projects
If you think you’re the type of leader downtown needs, Here’s how to proceed:
1. Call Lloyd Purdy, the Executive Director of MSOC, at 503.522.1564 to set up a meeting to learn more about downtown Oregon City and the non-profit MSOC.
2. Submit a brief resume to downtownpurdy@gmail.com so our Organization Committee can make sure the downtown revitalization program is a good fit for your interests and skills.
3. Submit answers to the following questions.
- Why is a more vibrant and active downtown important to you and to Oregon City?
- What leadership qualities do you bring to MSOC?
- How have you demonstrated this?
- How many hours per week can you commit to downtown projects and programs?
- Is there a specific project or program you would like to lead that benefits all of downtown?
- What is the biggest challenge facing downtown Oregon City in the next three years?
- What other volunteer groups have you been involved with and in what capacity?
- What successful projects were you part of and how did you contribute to the success of the organization?
Interested candidates will be reviewed by a nominations committee of downtown stakeholders and appointed by the MSOC board of directors.
Other Volunteer Leadership Positions with MSOC
Downtown stakeholders and community who do not want the responsibility of a board position but would like to get involved in projects and programs are encouraged to so by meeting with MSOC Director Lloyd Purdy or any MSOC Board Member.
MSOC Board Meetings
Stakeholders are welcome to attend Main Street Oregon City Board meetings held the second Monday of every month beginning at noon. Meeting location is the conference room at 900 Main Street, Suite 104.
If you have any questions about the work we’re doing to make downtown a better place for your business, please contact a board member or Director, Lloyd Purdy at 503.522.1564.
MSOC Bylaws can be downloaded via this link.
A presentation from the 2011 MSOC Annual Meeting on October 9, 2011 can be viewed via this link.
Here’s a short list of Downtown Successes over the last three years:
- Established a $24,000 downtown sign fund to help promote downtown businesses.
- Helped author more than $2.5 million in streetscape improvement funding grants.
- Created three new events to draw visitors downtown (First Friday Art Walk, First City Celebration on July 28th, 2012, Downtown Car Show on September 15th 2012).
- Supported the creation of the Oregon City Farmers Market Winter and Wednesday Markets downtown.
- 40 new businesses downtown since 2009.
- More than $1.2 million in building improvement each year for the last three years.
- Developed a $50,000 business recruitment campaign – see part of this campaign via the following link “Blue Collar Creative”.
- Led the effort to restore a retail friendly 2-way traffic to Main Street Oregon City.
- Formed an Economic Improvement District to sustain downtown revitalization programs.
- Supported over $70,000 in public art projects downtown.
What is the Main Street Program?
The Main Street Approach is a comprehensive approach to downtown improvement that requires commitment and collaboration from the community to build a successful program.
Four Point Approach
The success of the Main Street Oregon City is based on its comprehensive nature. By fully integrating four points into a practical downtown management strategy, a local program makes fundamental changes in a community’s economic base:
1) Organization involves building a framework for downtown improvement that is well represented by business and property owners, citizens, public officials, and other local economic development organizations, with a focus on fund-raising and volunteer recruitment. Everyone must work together to renew downtown. A strong organization provides the stability to build long-term success.
2) Promotion creates excitement about downtown Oregon City. Street festivals, retail events, and image development campaigns are some of the ways we encourages people to visit downtown. Promotion involves marketing an enticing image to shoppers, investors, and visitors.
3) Design enhances the attractiveness of downtown Oregon City. Historic building rehabilitation, street and alley clean-up, colorful banners, landscaping, and lighting all improve the physical image of the downtown as a quality place to shop, work, walk, invest in, and live. Design improvements result in a reinvestment of public and private dollars to downtown.
4) Economic Restructuring involves analyzing current market forces to develop long-term solutions. Recruiting new businesses, creatively converting unused space for new uses, and sharpening the competitiveness of downtown’s traditional merchants are examples of economic restructuring activities.
Benefits of a Main Street Program:
o Improved image and community pride
o Increased occupancy rates
o Business retention, recruitment, expansion, and jobs
o Technical assistance, funding opportunities, finance assistance, and training
o New business and job opportunities
o Better relations between local government and private sector
o Promotion and marketing of community
o Increased variety of services and products offered in the downtown marketplace
Click here to see a PDF of the 2011 Downtown Oregon City Market Analysis and Business Development Strategy: Oregon City Report Final.
(Need a free PDF viewer? Click here.)
