I often tell people, half jokingly, that I’m not much of a numbers guy. I can remember, in specific detail, other things people have told me months ago. But I can barely remember my phone number.
Numbers, though, are very important to what we do here in the newsroom (which is why I usually have a notebook to write them down).
Many times, when we cover a story, the heart of the matter is in the numbers. That’s why we tell readers about how many students are registered each fall in Sweet Home schools, how many positions will be cut (or won’t be cut) due to budget constraints in some local agency, how many yards the tailback gained in the football game.
I’ve covered a lot of sports over the years and it’s surprising how you can miss out on a great performance by an athlete, unless you look at the numbers.
For instance, if you don’t know much about track and field, you may not realize when you’re sitting in the stands at the state track meet that that third-place finish by a Sweet Home athlete is key to the team winning the state title. Sure, third is more disappointing than first or second to the runner, but the numbers tell the story.
Same principle applies to that tailback. If he hasn’t broken away for a spectacular “big” play during the game, you may not realize that he has actually had a great performance as he carries the ball 30 times for three or four yards each. Doesn’t look like much on the field, but 100-plus yards in a game is significant. The numbers tell the story.
When you look at the numbers, 2008 has been a good year for Sweet Home.
While things have taken a bad turn economically for the United States, and many of us know people who have lost their jobs or are suffering because of that downturn, when we look at the past year we can see some marked steps toward the warming of our city’s economic climate – particularly its retail climate.
One indication that things are looking up is the number of new businesses in the downtown core area, along Main and Long streets between Highway 228 and the Chamber of Commerce office just east of the corner of Main and 15th.
These new businesses have started since last Jan. 1: Funky Munky clothing and furniture store, Green for All Seasons clothing store/Melody for Facials, S&J Thrift variety store, the new Laughing Moose antique store, John Glossa Jewelry, Mr. Lucky’s Deli, Lorene’s Diner and Little Joe’s Snack Shack. There are also South Santiam Salon and Sonia’s Salon Essentials, I Believe I Can Dance studio, and, north of town, Marks Ridge Winery, as well as, east of downtown, new ownership at Sweet Home Auto Body.
I have to confess I haven’t personally visited all of these businesses, but I’m surrounded by people who have and I’m impressed by a lot of what they tell me. It’s clear that we have some business people in town who have good ideas and the wherewithal to carry them out and that’s a big plus.
But we’re just getting started.
As you may recall, last year at this time we were awaiting a visit from downtown revitalization experts who were going to give us a frank assessment of where our retail district stood. We were also hoping to get a matching grant to get assistance from these experts in turning things around downtown.
Well, the experts did come – on a cold, gray day in which dirty snow lay piled on the curbs. They were frank and they were unimpressed. They called our downtown “blighted,” “unhealthy,” “cheap and tacky” and then they awarded their grants to other cities – Lebanon, Philomath, Newport and Toledo.
That ticked a lot of us off and certain city leaders decided that this time we weren’t going to lie down. They called a meeting and invited anyone interested in seeing in Sweet Home’s retail district change. It drew 125 people and led to another meeting, which drew even more participants.
That was the beginning of Sweet Home Economic Revitalization Effort (SHARE), which is an (increasingly) organized effort to take the steps necessary to correct the problems the revitalization experts cited.
As with all grass-roots efforts, SHARE has required time and patience to get rolling. There have been some bumps, but we’re moving forward after the formation of committees of volunteers to coordinate the revitalization process and outline goals, plan and market events that will help the downtown, oversee the financing and bookkeeping, and plan how some of the revitalization is going to happen.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that the Sweet Home Economic Development Group (SHEDG), of which SHARE is now an arm, has purchased land next door to the Chamber of Commerce office to create a downtown “hub” building that is expected to provide space for chamber and SHEDG/Oregon Jamboree offices, as well as other services and businesses, and allow facilities for pull-through parking for RV’s during the summer, which will help efforts to make ourselves more friendly to tourists.
This spring the chamber and SHARE are collaborating in a free seminar for the local business community in which business development experts will offer suggestions on how to improve services (and incomes).
SHARE and SHEDG have decided to hire a full-time specialist to coordinate the volunteers and goals of revitalizing downtown. That person is expected to be in place by June and will provide the expertise (and focus) necessary to help Sweet Home really turn things around.
A feasibility study is in the works to determine whether it is possible or desirable to create an urban renewal district to spur economic development in Sweet Home. If it is, the next goal would be to create a more formal, specific urban renewal plan this year.
This isn’t just talk. Things are happening. Money is being spent (or will be) to make some of these things happen. The story is in the numbers.
You can help make this turnaround happen. If you don’t enjoy vacant, “blighted” storefronts, you can help Sweet Home’s economic district follow the lead of other unhealthy towns such as Estacada, Joseph, Sisters or Silverton that have taken similar action to turn things around.
If you’re interested in a hands-on role, you can get involved in one of the SHARE committees. Right now, the biggest need is in planning. Sweet Home needs people who like to come up with ideas, who like to do research, who want to see change.
But if you’re not ready to jump in as a SHARE volunteer, you can still help.
Visit the new stores and restaurants. Check them out. Eat there. See what they’re offering. Encourage them. It takes guts to start a business. These people have taken risks because they think they have something to offer that you might like. Go in and find out.
Shopping locally may not be something that some of our residents are used to doing, but remember, if you spend your money in Sweet Home, it stays here. If you spend it somewhere else, we’ll never see it again.
So try it. Help turn things around.
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By the way, check out the lights on Weddle Bridge, in Sankey Park, which are shining thanks largely to the efforts of a SHARE volunteer. See page 12 for more details.