May 14, 2019
Public Spaces, Community PlacesFebruary 20, 2020
12 – 1 PM EST
1. Be aware, attendees are muted
2. Use the chat feature to ask questions
3. Please complete the Survey Monkey evaluation following the webinar
4. Mark your calendars for Regional Rev Ups // Upper Story Housing Development, April 22 - Marion, April 23 - Danville, & April 29 - Luray, 2020
Speakers
Kyle Meyer
Virginia Main Street
(804) 371-7078
Ebrahim Varachia
Patronicity
(248) 854-5130
Agenda
• Why placemaking?
• Main Street + placemaking
• Funding projects
• What’s happening nationally?
• Getting started
“Downtowns are at the heart of 21st
century economic development because they are a community’s nerve center and a key asset for regional prosperity.”
~Ed McMahonSenior Resident Fellow, ULI
Advisor Emeritus, National Trust for Historic Preservation
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Who We Are
Patronicity brings together local citizens & sponsors
to support great placemaking initiatives in their
communities using civic crowdfunding as a tool.
Placemaking...
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Placemaking generally refers to a process of
planning & designing public spaces to contribute to
a community’s health, happiness and well-being
with community-based participation at its center…
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Placemaking Impacts
Positive Marketing
Increased Pedestrian Activity
Small Business Growth
Attracting New Neighbors & Residents
Build Community Ownership & Pride
What is Main Street?
• Method for reinvigorating the traditional downtown neighborhood
• Economic development through historic preservation
• Grassroots revitalization strategy
The Main Street Approach®
Outcomes of a Main Street Effort
• Utilizes historic assets
• Public-private collaboration
• Preserves and creates jobs
• Increases tax revenue
• Community pride
• Vibrancy
• “Sense of Place”
Funding Sources
Public Funding
• General Revenue funds or tax levy dollars
• Special taxing districts
• Federal grants and loans
• State grants
• Local grants
Private Funding
• Foundation Grants
• Donations & crowdfunding for the purchase of items, such as pavers, benches, or public art
• In-kind donations like paint, lumber, or time
Warrenton Kids Market Photo
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Who We Are
Patronicity brings together local citizens & sponsors
to support great placemaking initiatives in their
communities using civic crowdfunding as a tool.
Building Vibrant Communities
• First-ever Statewide crowdfunding & grantingpartnership
• Support projects that activate public/community space
• Provide matching challenge grants IF goal reached - Crowdgranting
• Community is the Final Review Committee
Partnerships
How it Works
Apply• Projects apply through Patronicity.com
• Patronicity ensures fit, creates compelling story
Review
• Grant Sponsor approves or rejects through Patronicity
• Typically 72 hour turnaround
Live• Patronicity coaches through crowdfunding
• Community is the Review Committee
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$16mil+Crowdfunded for community projects on Patronicity.
85,000+Supporters of Patronicity Projects Nationwide.
550+Community projects supported on Patronicity.
Impact
$28mil+Reinvested into Communities across America.
Empowering People
“Crowdfunding was a way for community members to become emotionally bought-in to their space and its mission before they opened”
Bekah Wallace
Reclaiming an unused warehouse and former bank drive-thru in the center of Ypsilanti’s downtown for an indoor-outdoor marketplace.
Ypsilanti Farmers Market
Portland Red Mill Pavilion
•Population under 4,000
•749 Patrons donated
“Our community literally holds the building
together. The beams, posts and pins are
all sponsored, and they signify the
collective effort to reinvigorate this spot in
our city. Every piece of wood has a story.”
-Noreen Logel - Friends of the Red
Mill
Royal Oak Smart Park
Identify latent opportunities to revitalize & reinvent main streets,downtowns and commercial centers through meaningful community & stakeholder engagement paired with strong local and global inspirations.
Involving theCommunity!
Starting Blocks toPlacemaking
1. Identify a Place & Connect with “Users”
2. Evaluate the Space, Discuss Challenges & Issues
3. Develop a New Vision for the space
4. Design & Implement
5. Continue Evaluating & Plan Ongoing Improvements
Empowering People to Build Vibrant Communities
Ebrahim Varachia
+1-248-854-5130
@Patronicity
@benchplaces