The Fort Bend County Fair Association worked in partnership with their ‘Grapes on the Brazos’

Committee and the Rosenberg Arts Alliance to stage another successful ‘Downtown Stomp’ in Historic

Downtown Rosenberg on Saturday, August 5th. Local merchants reported that the event boosted their

sales and helped introduce the downtown district to many people who had never visited. Each year,

the Downtown Stomp is a particularly popular event with the downtown merchants because, unlike

some other festivals, it brings guests directly into their shops.

Downtown Stomp Drew A Big Crowd for Wine and Shopping

A Report on Recent and Upcoming Downtown Happenings Main Street Program - September 2017

Coming up in September

Every Saturday Night in September

Live Music at BR Vino 7:30-10:30 PM - 1917 Ave. G

Every Weekend thru Sept. 2 Cast Theatrical’s

production of ’The Downfall of a Trusting Heart’

call (832) 889-3808 for tickets

Friday, Sept. 8th - Live Music at the Soda Fountain

Cody Ray Henry - 6-8 PM - 800 Third Street

Saturday, Sept. 9th - Ride to Rosenberg Car Show

Cars - Music - Food & Fun - 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sat., Sept. 16th - Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s

Fall Fun Fest - 10 AM-5 PM - 1921 Avenue F

Saturday, Sept. 30th - Downtown Auction Day at

Shorty Yeaman’s Auction House - 815 2nd Street

Preview at 10 AM - Auction at 12 Noon

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum

Wed.-Sat.,10 AM-5 PM, & Sun.1-5 PM , 1921 Ave. F

On September 16th, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum (RRM)

will present their Fall Fun Fest. The theme for this year’s event

is ‘May the Steam Be With You’, and guests are encouraged

to attend wearing Star Wars or Steampunk costumes.

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Rosenberg Downtown News for September Page 2

Design Committee Elects Leaders & Reviews Status of Grants

The Main Street Design Committee met on August 8th. The Committee reviewed several issues.

First, the Committee re-elected its Chair, Marcia Vogelsang, and its Vice Chair, Carolyn Watson, as

their Committee leadership during the coming year. Then, the group reviewed a written report on

progress that has been made on matching grant projects that have been recommended by the

Committee and the Main Street Advisory Board. The report provided updates, for example, on the

progress being made on restoration and improvement projects at the Fort Bend Hope Outreach

Center, the Janice Vyoral State Farm Insurance Park, and many more.

Work on restoration of the Fort Bend Hope Building, shown above, is progressing nicely

May June July

Also, the Committee discussed proposed changes to the guidelines for the

Physical Improvement Matching Grant to bring it into conformity with city

procurement rules. After reviewing these proposed changes, the

Committee recommended their approval. In addition, there was a brief

report on the recent repair of one of the downtown art benches that had

been damaged; and there was a report on the preparation of a new art

bench to be placed in front of Once Again Antiques at 801 Third Street.

Furthermore, there was a report on the private building restoration project

now underway at the intersection or Fourth Street and Avenue H; and there was a report

on the initiative to recruit local artists to place their art in vacant downtown storefronts. A

draft liability limitation agreement related to this effort has been distributed to some of the

parties for comment. Finally, the Committee discussed the addition of 20 new public

planting pots, and a small group of committee members with expertise in gardening

agreed to work up hardware and maintenance options for the RDC Board to consider.

This new bench by Christi

Stone will be placed in front

of Once Again Antiques

The grant for the Vyoral park improvement was approved by the City Council on June 6th.

The images, above show progress on the wrought iron fence

Rosenberg Downtown News for September Page 3

TMSP Design Specialist Oehlerking Taught a Class on

‘The Fundamentals of Retail Display Design’

Promotion Committee Reviews Policies and Upcoming Events The Main Street Promotion Committee met on

August 8th. Discussion at the Committee

meeting included a review of recent and

upcoming promotional activities and money

spent on those activities. Also, there was a

discussion regarding an upcoming Car Show

being staged by the Rosenberg Arts Alliance.

The event is called ‘Ride to Rosenberg’, and it

will be held on September 9th. There was also

discussion regarding possible Main Street

involvement in the Railroad Museum’s

upcoming ‘Fall Fun Fest’. The group agreed

to host a promotional booth at that festival.

There was also discussion regarding the

establishment of a downtown ‘Market Day’

with ‘pop-up’ vendors at specific times &

locations. The Committee also reviewed the

general policy used to determine the circum-

stances in which financial assistance is offered for downtown events. In addition, Committee

Chairman Bob Alanis updated the group on the distribution of downtown brochures & Rosenberg

magazines. Also, Dan McJunkin talked to the Committee about the new promotional publication

he has been working on. He explained that the publication, tentatively called the Rosenberg

Gazette, will only be viable if Rosenberg businesses embrace it by purchasing advertisements. In

addition, the group briefly discussed the status of funding for seasonal downtown events. Finally,

the Committee discussed planning issues related to the Autumn Arts and Antiques Festival, and

they noted that the next meeting of the Festival Planning Committee would be on August 10th.

The Main Street Economic Vitality Committee met on

August 9th. Topics covered at the Committee meeting

included a discussion about businesses needing support

and recruitment of businesses to occupy vacant shop

spaces. The Committee also worked on plans for

upcoming small business training sessions to be held in

November of 2017 and February of 2018. The group also

noted that we have several new businesses that have

opened recently in the downtown area including ‘Simply

Artistic’ at 2015 Avenue H, and ‘The Transformation

Center’ dance studio at 1022 Third Street.

Finally, Committee Vice Chair Ernie Dixon welcomed the

roughly 45 guest who were in attendance for the Small Business Training Breakfast, and TMSP Design

Specialist, Marie Oehlerking, taught a class on ‘The Fundamentals of Retail Display Design’.

TMSP Design Specialist, Marie Oehlerking, taught a

class on ‘The Fundamentals of Retail Display Design

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The Main Street Organization Committee met on August 10th and discussed several issues.

First, they nominated and elected leaders to guide the Committee in its work during the coming

year. They elected Ernie Dixon as Chair of the Committee and Edmund Samora as Vice Chairman.

Next, the group discussed the logistics associated with

the recent Main Street Program Summer Strategic

Planning Workshop that was held on August 1st. They

discussed what went well and what could be

improved. They also noted that the workshop

facilitator, Debra Drescher, would be compiling the

input that was received at the workshop and

submitting it back to us for our review within the next

few weeks.

The Organization Committee also discussed the Small

Business Training Breakfast that was held on August 9th.

Again, they discussed what went well, and what could

be improved.

In addition, the Committee discussed plans for the

newly established Autumn Decoration Contest for the

downtown community. This new contest will be similar

to the Christmas Decoration Contest we have held

during the last few years in that downtown merchants

and property owners will be asked to decorate for the

Autumn season, and an out-of-town judge will walk the

downtown and select one winner who will have their

name engraved on a Champion’s trophy. The Trophy

will be presented at the Autumn Arts & Antiques

Festival on October 14th.

Rosenberg Downtown News for September Page 4

Committee Elects Officers and Reviews Planning Workshop

‘Auction Day’ in Rosenberg

Saturday, August 26th

Preview at 10:00 AM

Auction at 2:00 PM

at Shorty Yeaman’s Auction House

Downtown at 815 Second Street

Cast Theatrical Company Presents

By Walter D. Ellis & Jeff Ellis

This play will continue its run through

Sept. 2nd. Call (832) 889-3808 for tickets

Texas Main Street Program Coordinator,

Debra Drescher, acted as facilitator for the

Rosenberg Main Street Program’s

annual summer strategic planning workshop