Chamber chronicles community growth
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| BCR file photo Princeton officials, businesses and developers meet July 26 for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future AmericInn Hotel, located at 220 Claude Bailey Parkway. Participating are, front from left, Sue Jespersen, with AmericInn Hotel, Bije and Martha Sherwood, owners/developers of the new hotel, Mayor Keith Cain, Tony Sorcic, Citizens First National Bank, Erika Robbins, Chamber of Commerce Main Street; and, back from left, Keith Lidberg, with Nelscott Construction Development, Kevin Heitz, with Chamlin & Associates, Princeton Zoning Officer Pete Nelson, Citizens First National representative Alan Forristall, and Princeton City Manager Andrew Brannen. |
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From the expansions of Perry Memorial Hospital and Princeton High School in 2006, to the opening of the new Princeton Public Library and soon-to-open downtown building (former Oak Room building) this year, to the new AmericInn Hotel and Suites coming in 2008, there are so many projects happening in Princeton that exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit and a confidence in the future of Princeton.
All over town we can see the results of many efforts made toward continuing prosperity in Princeton. Businesses like Surroundings and Fawcett’s Pharmacy are just two of the many that have recently undergone facade improvements. L.W. Schneider, Eco Espresso and Kramer’s Kitchen are all in the process of expanding their businesses. And several new businesses are moving in: The Wine Cellar, The Wine Shop, Bead Buzz, Quizno’s, Fitzgerald’s Piano Bar, The Corner Spot, The Vineyard Christian Shop, R Cargo 927 and The Main Street Inn are all new businesses coming to Main Street in 2007.
Of course, these are all visible signs of progress in Princeton. Many people are working behind the scenes to make it all happen.
The city of Princeton continues to encourage growth in many ways:
• By offering incentives such as a revolving loan fund and sales tax incentives.
• By providing funding for Princeton Tourism and Visitors Bureau to develop a marketing plan that will enable Princeton to market itself as a shopping and recreation destination.
• By securing a grant to develop environmentally sensitive properties.
• By offering state-of-the-art high speed internet capabilities.
• By actively marketing the Princeton Tech Park properties and the Claude Bailey properties near Interstate 80.
• By enforcing codes that keep our city safe and appealing to visitors and prospective businesses.
The Princeton Chamber of Commerce and Main Street is committed to providing business resources to its members, supporting tourism in Princeton, supporting economic development, and preservation and improvement of our downtown districts. The Chamber also acts as a collective voice for the business community.
The Chamber of Commerce has made other investments in its Web site and its other means of communication, in an effort to assist Princeton businesses and provide additional benefits for its business members.
Princeton’s Main Street program has awarded more than $15,000 in matching grants to local businesses for facade improvements in the past year. The Main Street program also offers free architectural consulting to help those businesses make improvements that enhance the historic look of our downtown. The following businesses, in partnership with Princeton’s Main Street program, have invested more than $80,000 in the past 12 months in our Main Street buildings: Surroundings, Zearing Computer Tech, Ann and Mike Dittmer’s building at 927 N. Main, The Downtown Building (former Oak Room Building), Kramer’s Kitchen, Bullington-Isaacson Construction, Ooh La La Salon, the old church building now owned by Mike Anderson, Fawcett’s Pharmacy, and Austin Parker Naturals.
The Princeton Tourism Board, in addition to allocating tax revenues to support the various festivals that encourage tourism, has begun a major project to bring tourist dollars to Princeton. Volunteers have spent countless hours working with a professional marketing firm to develop a message of the wonderful qualities Princeton has to offer to its visitors.
The Princeton Tourism Board also continues to find ways to work with the Bureau County Tourism Board and the LaSalle County Marketing Coalition because the Princeton experience is greatly enhanced by the tourist opportunities throughout the county, and because we all gain by combining our efforts.
The Princeton Park Board has begun the process of adding soccer fields to Zearing Park — a project that will provide the opportunity to attract soccer tournaments. Those out-of-town guests are committed to the sports activities of their children. They have accepted the costs of travel and out-of-town meals and lodging. The wisdom of inviting tournaments to our community will provide long term benefits to all of our businesses.
The efforts of those volunteers who have backed the Festival 56 theater festival, the Homestead Festival, Festival 9-3/4, The Shadows of the Blue and Gray and the other festivals have brought thousands of visitors and big dollars to Princeton. The benefit to our motels, restaurants, stores and community groups is tremendous.
The process is one of many steps. By improving the opportunities and quality of life here, we not only make Princeton better for its residents, we encourage others to come and visit. When they spend money here, business investors see opportunities to locate here. Having a greater selection of stores, restaurants and lodging, adds to what we have to offer to employers. And more jobs mean greater tax revenues and a better quality of life for the community. And the cycle of progress continues.
The progress we see in our community today doesn’t just happen. The future of Princeton is not left to chance or luck. Progress happens because of the commitment of our business people, residents, volunteers and elected officials working together to keep our city prosperous. Progress happens because of partnerships developed over time; it happens because of positive attitudes and new ideas from people that are willing to step up to the plate; it happens because of countless volunteer hours by those who donate their time and talents to the cause. Princeton has it all ... and we all reap the benefits of these efforts made toward progress!
Erika Robbins is the executive director of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce and Main Street.
